Inclusive Capacity of Ukrainian Media Discourse on Muslims: the Results of Empirical Research

Abstract

The article summarizes the research data of the discourse on Muslims in the Ukrainian media in terms of determining their inclusive potential. Based on the theoretical concepts of social inclusion, othering, social distance and discourse, the concepts of «inclusive discourse» and «inclusive potential of discourse» are conceptualized. The latter is understood as a characteristic of the influence of a certain discourse about a social group on the possibility and conditions of social interaction with this group. Considering the results of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the array of Ukrainian media publications about Muslims, the article presents the meanings of the nodal sign «Muslim» that influence social interaction with this group: extraterritoriality, exoticism, violence, disasters, accidents. An analysis of the headlines points to social distancing from Muslims through such discoursive mechanisms as «presenting the group as homogeneous» and «denying subjectivity». The five discourses of Muslims in the Ukrainian media identified in the previous stages of the study are characterized in terms of their inclusive potential. The main indicator of inclusiveness is the convergence of «we-they» discourses, what is embodied in the similarity of the chains of equivalence and the logic of difference between «we» and «they» discourses. With the usage of this tool, it has been proven that the discourses «Muslim-the hero of Ukraine» and «Muslim-protester» have inclusive potential in Ukrainian society, while «Muslim-terrorist» and «Muslim-victim» do not have such potential. In addition, the «Muslim-believer» discourse also is characterized has some inclusive potential.