Discourse of economic security: dominant narratives in contemporary media

Abstract

This monograph examines the discursive construction of economic security in Lithuanian media between 2020 and 2024, highlighting thematic, emotional, semantic, and visual narratives that shape public understanding of economic threats, stability, and resilience. The study draws on the theoretical framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), including M. Foucault’s power/knowledge paradigm, N. Fairclough’s view of discourse as social practice, R. Wodak’s discourse-historical approach, T.A. van Dijk’s socio-cognitive model, and the poststructuralist theory of hegemony by E. Laclau and Ch. Mouffe. These approaches enable an analysis of how the concept of economic security is constructed in the public sphere through media, and what ideological functions are performed by dominant narratives. The research focuses on both public (LRT) and commercial (Delfi, 15min) media outlets. Using qualitative content and discourse analysis methods, more than 100 articles were analysed, identifying key discursive fields such as inflation, energy security, support for Ukraine, migration, and domestic political stability. The findings reveal that economic security is not portrayed as a neutral or technical indicator; rather, it acquires normative and ideological content shaped not only by expert reasoning but also by emotional metaphors, visual devices, and narrative patterns. Results indicate that media not only inform the public about economic processes but also actively interpret them, influencing citizens’ perception of security, social attitudes, and political choices. The economic security discourse in the media functions as a powerful structuring tool of public communication, shaping not only awareness, but also collective interpretations of threats. It operates through metaphors, frames, and emotional cues that reinforce both cognitive and affective responses to economic phenomena. Framing strategies - such as threat narratives, individual responsibility, and state paternalism - determine how society perceives risks, evaluates institutional actions, and chooses behavioural strategies. Economic security in public discourse is both an objective condition and a discursively constructed concept that transforms structural challenges into moral, ideological, and emotional evaluations. Thus, discourse becomes a mechanism for behavioural norms and collective identity formation, exerting long-term influence on democratic decision-making and security policies. This monograph contributes to a deeper understanding of how economic security is shaped not only through policy documents or macroeconomic indicators, but also through discursive practices produced and circulated by media. The study is relevant to public policy researchers and communication specialists interested in the intersections of security, media, and ideology.