Factors affecting solidarity: An argumentative analysis of the European Parliament debate on migration in the Mediterranean

Abstract

The 12th of April 2016, the European Parliament held a debate concerning the migration on the Mediterranean Sea. The issue has turned into a political crisis that has divided the member states of the European Union. This study intends to examine whether geographical distance may condition solidarity. Through an argumentative analysis, arguments by Swedish, Finnish, Greek and Italian members of the European Parliament will be analyzed to establish whether political orientation, or geographical location is more likely to explain the difference in statements. It is found that the hypothesis of North European arguments being more often characterized by logic and South European by emotion is correct. Thereby the conclusion of the study is that the geographical distance, in this case, is more likely to explain the different arguments than political orientation

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