Ukrainian Refugees and Welfare Deservingness: A Comparative Study of UK Government Discussions Around the 2022 Ukraine Conflict and 2015 Migrant Crisis
Journal: British Journal of Sociology
Year: 2025

Recent years witnessed mass migration towards Europe, from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the 2015 Migrant Crisis linked to war in Syria. This article explores UK government discussion around these two significant crises, focussing on the challenges they present and the portrayal of refugees. It asks how far ministers' language differentiated between Ukrainians and Syrians regarding welfare deservingness. Thematically analysing over 100 official speeches, statements and press releases, th