The Politics of Crisis and the Framing of Migration: Shaping Policy and Public Perception

Abstract

Migration has increasingly been framed as a crisis by political actors and media organizations across the world. This crisis narrative has become a powerful political tool for shaping public opinion, influencing policy decisions, and constructing migrants as threats to national, cultural, or economic security. This study explores how political discourse and media representations contribute to the construction of migration as a crisis, and how these narratives affect public perception and policymaking. While crisis framing appears globally, its intensity, motivations, and impacts vary across political contexts. In developed nations, migration has often been politicized during election cycles, securitized in policy debates, and linked to economic uncertainties or cultural anxieties. In developing contexts, including Pakistan, crisis narratives around migration intersect with challenges such as internal displacement, refugee influxes, and political instability. Using a qualitative research design, this study investigates the perspectives of thirteen key informants working in policymaking institutions in Pakistan. In-depth interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis was employed to identify dominant narrative patterns and the political logics behind them. Five major themes emerged: the strategic construction of crisis narratives, media’s amplification role, public fear formation, securitization of migration policy, and the political utility of crisis framing. Findings indicate that crisis narratives are not merely descriptive but are intentionally constructed to legitimize certain political agendas, restrict migration policies, or mobilize public support. Participants emphasized that these narratives often overshadow structural issues such as governance failures, socio-economic inequalities, and global power dynamics shaping migration flows. The study concludes by highlighting the need for evidence-based narratives and more responsible political communication to mitigate polarized perceptions and foster humane, balanced migration policies.

Keywords: Politics of Crises, Framing of Migration, Policy, Public Perception