This article looks at mainstream political discourses about immigration in Sweden during the recent “refugee crisis”. It argues that different patterns of politicization of immigration have traditionally dominated in Sweden and focuses on Swedish mainstream politics wherein, as is shown, explicit focus on politicization via (previous as well as current) immigration-related policies still persists. However, as the analysis of Sweden's Social Democratic Party's Twitter discourse shows, a hybrid new discourse of politicization is now emerging. It allows political actors to legitimize immigration policy with often populist-like politicization and the use of new modes of online political communication. © 2018 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC © 2018, © Michał Krzyżanowski.

Immigration policy Critical discourse studies Sweden legitimation strategies Political discourse Politicization Refugee crisis

strategic approach immigration policy crisis management political discourse refugee Communication party politics democracy Sweden