Construction of Solidarity: Czech and Polish Approach to Refugees in the EU Context

Abstract

The article deals with the concept of solidarity in the context of the current refugee crisis. Specifi cally, employing the Discourse-Historical Approach, it explores how solidarity is constructed in the discourse of the EU and in two member states, in Poland and in the Czech Republic which have been very critical of the EUropean approach to refugees from the beginning of the refugee crisis in 2015. As the fi ndings suggest, relocations seem to be the only contested aspect of a more complex solution. On all other initiatives, there is an agreement between the EU and Poland and the Czech Republic even though the discourse might seem escalated at fi rst sight. Moreover, drawing on the theoretical overview, the balancing of solidarity as a value with national interests and focus on security seems to be in line with the theoretical conceptualisation of international solidarity.