Reading against the grain: A corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis of European Commission communications on migration within Tunisia (2017–23).

This article examines the European Commission's (EC) public communications on unauthorized migration within Tunisia from 2017 to 2023, employing a corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis (CADS) approach. The study analyzes a 10,000-word corpus of EC press releases, statements, and speeches, revealing a dominant discourse that contrasts irregular migration's risks with the promotion of legal pathways, while navigating the tension between EU security concerns and human rights commitments. Findings highlight the EC's framing of migration management as a solution-oriented, pluralistic, and cooperative effort involving Tunisia and the broader North African region, moving away from Eurocentric narratives toward partnership-based policies. The research underscores the complexity of migration politics shaped by geopolitical and socio-economic factors and suggests the need for more inclusive, human-centered migration policies beyond securitization and externalization strategies.