Disinformation and calculated care beyond the Global North: comparing refugee discourses in Australia and India.

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Humanitarian Studies
• Media Studies

Background:

• The dominant discourse of humanitarianism often overlooks the specific experiences of marginalized groups.
• Muslim refugees and asylum seekers face unique challenges influenced by geopolitical factors and media portrayals.
• Existing humanitarian policies and practices may be shaped by underlying anti-Muslim biases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of "care" for Muslim refugees and asylum seekers within the framework of humanitarianism.
• To analyze the role of multidimensional anti-Muslim alliances between governments and media in India and Australia.
• To examine how "information disorder" and disinformation perpetuate Islamophobia in humanitarian contexts.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of India's response to Rohingya refugees and Australia's treatment of post-9/11 Muslim refugees.
• Investigation of the nexus between state and media institutions, including official and unofficial media, and social media content.
• Examination of disinformation strategies used to foster Islamophobic sentiments.

Main Results:

• "Information disorder" concerning Muslim refugees is produced at the intersection of state, media, and social media actors.
• Both India and Australia utilize disinformation, creating a form of "calculated care" that perpetuates Islamophobia.
• Institutionalized Islamophobia in the public sphere promotes culturally supremacist and national security discourses.

Conclusions:

• The study necessitates a re-evaluation of humanitarian care for vulnerable and stateless populations.
• Response strategies must acknowledge and address the institutionalization of Islamophobia.
• Challenging disinformation and anti-Muslim bias is essential for equitable humanitarian practices.