Between Securitization and Counter-Securitization: Church of Sweden Opposing the Turn of Swedish Government Migration Policy

Taking our point of departure in securitization theory the aim is to analyze how Lutheran Church Sweden responded when Swedish Government late autumn 2015 made a sudden halt previously generous posture towards refugees. Applying concept counter-securitization we demonstrate Archbishop, and other leaders, strongly contested this official policy shift, legitimating their standpoint by referring radical, cosmopolitan reading gospel. Employees lay members were mobilized support immigrants through protest, everyday service, consultation lobbying. Articulating view that should not be reserved for cases perceived existential military threat highly relevant debate about role religion secularism. Securitization appear as two complementary approaches, where may stand up bulwark defending immigration rights contradistinction retrotopian xenophobic interpretations We contribute field illustrating research caught one-dimensional ‘security’ ‘securitization’, but has interpreted within non-linear, non-binary framework, with sensitive ear different political, cultural, social religious contexts, forgetting time dimension.