Undecidable decisions
As natural resource management is inherently riddled with different opinions and ensuing conflicts, there is no consensus that doesn’t necessarily exclude parts of society. At the same time, there is a need to manage natural resources in order to prevent their depletion by a few. According to Chan...
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| Formato: | Second cycle, A2E |
| Lenguaje: | sueco Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2017
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| Acceso en línea: | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/10241/ |
| Sumario: | As natural resource management is inherently riddled with different opinions and ensuing conflicts,
there is no consensus that doesn’t necessarily exclude parts of society. At the same time, there is a
need to manage natural resources in order to prevent their depletion by a few. According to Chantal
Mouffe and Ernesto Laclau, this undecidability renders every decision that is taken an act of power
that favours one possibility over others. This study provides a framework to analyze the paradox of
undecidability in a conflict case around the construction of a hydroelectric power plant around the
river Isel in Austria and the conflicting designation of the river as a protected area. Sensemakings
from in-depth interviews and a media analysis are used to analyse identity construction, hegemonic
projects as well as discursive strategies of depoliticization and politicization. The conflict case also
gives input to how participation processes in environmental conflicts could look like, if it took
Mouffe’s agonistic pluralism into account. |
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