Reflections on Foucauldian discourse analysis in planning and environmental policy research

Abstract

Discourse analysis is becoming an increasingly common approach in planning and environmental policy research. This paper asserts that the generic treatment of discourse analysis obscures distinct approaches in which 'discourses' can combine different elements of text, systems of thought and action. Textually oriented approaches have been more prevalent during the 1990s; but this paper explores a different approach, grounded in the theory of Michel Foucault, which broadens discourse to embrace social action. Comparing and contrasting two studies that have utilized this approach, the paper suggests that there is considerable room for variation concerning the subjects of study, the institutional scale of analyses, the methods of investigation and process of analysis. Nevertheless, this paper identifies certain core elements of a Foucauldian discourse analytic approach. The paper concludes that this emerging approach to discourse analysis promises considerable insights if applied more widely in planning and environmental research. Copyright

Discourse and innovation journeys: the case of low energy housing in the UK

“…Discourse coalition theory was originally developed in relation to public policy debates, rather than private sector innovation (Flyvbjerg 1998;Sharp and Richardson 2001). There are hence some limitations in translating the concept to innovation journeys.…”

“…Discourse analysis incorporates a large literature (see Dryzek 1997;Sharp and Richardson 2001 for an overview), and for this reason the paper focuses on two key discursive processes within the UK low energy housing innovation journey: first, the emergence of a network of actors united by language about climate change, a low carbon housing discourse coalition (Hajer 1995); and second, the framing and reframing of innovations as solutions to different policy problems (Laws and Rein 2003;Rein and Schon 1993). It is shown how discourse is particularly important during the developmental stage of an innovation journey because once prototypes have been built and innovations are in the public arena and have a visible material presence, it becomes possible for organisations not involved in the initiation stage of an innovation journey to try to claim ownership of the innovation through discursively reframing it to meet their objectives.…”

“…It is shown how discourse is particularly important during the developmental stage of an innovation journey because once prototypes have been built and innovations are in the public arena and have a visible material presence, it becomes possible for organisations not involved in the initiation stage of an innovation journey to try to claim ownership of the innovation through discursively reframing it to meet their objectives. The role of discourse in innovation journeys has not been examined in detail, which is surprising because the notion of an innovation journey concerns ideas, people and relationships, thereby has significant overlap with discourse analysis, which concentrates on similar themes (Dryzek 1997;Flyvbjerg 1998;Hastings 1999;Rydin 1999;Sharp and Richardson 2001). An innovation journey is defined by Van de Ven et.…”

Discourse Analysis and its Utility for Urban Policy Research

“…Work that has drawn from Foucault very often adopts a historical approach by setting out how regimes of truth are articulated and reveal evidence of contradictions or ruptures in the text which may be evident, albeit less explicitly. There are examples that provide an explicit rationale for the approach (Atkinson, 1999;Stenson & Watt, 1999;Sharp & Richardson, 2001) whilst others such as Vagnby and Jensen (2002) overlook this. The argument advanced by Lees (2004) that a distinction can be made between two discourse-based research approaches is certainly helpful for situating the most influential modes of critical discourse methodologies.…”

Discourse Analysis of Nature Conservation Policies in Africa: a Beninese Case Study

“…Nevertheless, the philosopher considers discourse as a place of struggles and negotiations between actors who support each specific discursive formation linked with various strategies of power. In the field of environmental policy, the Foucauldian discourse theory has a strong echo, since it brings new perspectives for the understanding of policy processes (Sharp and Richardson, 2001). This work particularly follows Maarten Hajer's reading of Foucault, who uses discourse analysis to bring out the "secondary discursive realities" of environmental politics, that is to say the close links between policy outcomes and discourses (Hajer and Versteeg, 2005).…”