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| author |
Leslie Potashner
| | title |
The Refugee in American Newspapers
| | abstract |
The identity of the United States of America as a "nation of refugees" dates to the Pilgrim Fathers. The relationship between the United States and refugees is examined through their depiction in newspapers from 1690 to 2025. This analysis reveals newspapers present refugees within a threat or savior narrative: either portraying them as a danger to the nation or as individuals deserving of rescue by heroic Americans. When refugees do not serve a political purpose, they are often excluded from news coverage and erased from historical narratives, as in the case of the forced displacement of Native nations. These narratives are compared to various periods of political development, including early democracy, republican revolutions in Europe, in the context of slavery, public health emergencies, the end of empires and the establishment of nation-states, the Cold War, and the use of refugees as tools in asymmetrical warfare. By utilizing multiple newspaper databases, key themes emerged regarding governance and national identity. Although the global refugee regime seeks to provide asylum and services by depoliticizing refugees, the perception and portrayal of refugees remain profoundly political.
| | school |
The Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, Drew University
| | degree |
D.Litt.
(2025)
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| advisor |
William B. Rogers
Liana Piehler
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| full text | LPotashner.pdf - requires Drew uLogin |
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