65
3
the example of bioprospecting, which has been dominated by two opposing discourses since the beginning of the 1990s.
It can be useful to locate the discourse concept relative to other key concepts
of human opinion and thought. Original views on a theme put forth by an individual will lie outside established discourses. Discourses are social constructions,
in other words they are produced by a number of people together. That said, the
views of an individual may contribute substantially in establishing, producing, or
transforming discourses.
Ideology is a term often used on the main ideas about how society should be
organized. Liberalism, socialism and nationalism are examples of such ideas.
Ideologies contrast the concept we here introduce about discourses as perspectives
on more limited themes.
Culture may have much in common with the discourse concept. Both concern
meaning constructions shared by many individuals, but culture usually is used in a
broader sense and encompasses deeper structures than discourses. The culture of
a society includes fundamental ways of perceiving, living and behaving in society.
It is worthwhile emphasizing that discourses constitute important social structures. Hence, they contribute both to constraining and enabling actions (7 Chap. 1).
Paradigm is a label often used interchangeably with discourse. In such cases,
the discourse is scientific, that is, it is a scientific discipline or approach within a
discipline. However, many discourses are produced outside the world of science,
and actors other than scientists are key contributors.
Like discourses, theories contain visions of reality. Usually, only scientists have
the authority to establish theories. Discourses distinguished by actors other than
scientists often tend to be more influential on practices, and an example is the governance of natural resources. Therefore, we argue that it is important for students
not only to study topics in comparison with theories, as it is usually done, but also
to compare practices with the leading discourses.
In this book, we use a discourse concept often drawn on in the social sciences.
It is worthwhile to recognize that this differs from the everyday use of the term
discourse as a synonym for discussion. Actually, discourse is the opposite of discussion. A discussion involves differences of opinion, whereas the concept of discourse that we use instead implies a pattern of similarities in statements.
Moreover, there is a range of linguistic perspectives on discourse, and they are
much more engaged with the ways in which language is used. Linguists often see
conversation to constitute a discourse, and an analysis of discourse may focus on
how language is used in producing opinion. Social scientists also often apply elements of linguistic discourse analyses.
But the purpose of discourse analysis in the social sciences is not to produce
knowledge about language as such. The purpose is rather to chart to what extent
and how discourses structure our views on particular topics, and to examine
whether there are particular groups of actors who exercise power by contributing
substantially to this structuration.
3.1 · The Political Economy of Bioprospecting
3
the example of bioprospecting, which has been dominated by two opposing discourses since the beginning of the 1990s.
It can be useful to locate the discourse concept relative to other key concepts
of human opinion and thought. Original views on a theme put forth by an individual will lie outside established discourses. Discourses are social constructions,
in other words they are produced by a number of people together. That said, the
views of an individual may contribute substantially in establishing, producing, or
transforming discourses.
Ideology is a term often used on the main ideas about how society should be
organized. Liberalism, socialism and nationalism are examples of such ideas.
Ideologies contrast the concept we here introduce about discourses as perspectives
on more limited themes.
Culture may have much in common with the discourse concept. Both concern
meaning constructions shared by many individuals, but culture usually is used in a
broader sense and encompasses deeper structures than discourses. The culture of
a society includes fundamental ways of perceiving, living and behaving in society.
It is worthwhile emphasizing that discourses constitute important social structures. Hence, they contribute both to constraining and enabling actions (7 Chap. 1).
Paradigm is a label often used interchangeably with discourse. In such cases,
the discourse is scientific, that is, it is a scientific discipline or approach within a
discipline. However, many discourses are produced outside the world of science,
and actors other than scientists are key contributors.
Like discourses, theories contain visions of reality. Usually, only scientists have
the authority to establish theories. Discourses distinguished by actors other than
scientists often tend to be more influential on practices, and an example is the governance of natural resources. Therefore, we argue that it is important for students
not only to study topics in comparison with theories, as it is usually done, but also
to compare practices with the leading discourses.
In this book, we use a discourse concept often drawn on in the social sciences.
It is worthwhile to recognize that this differs from the everyday use of the term
discourse as a synonym for discussion. Actually, discourse is the opposite of discussion. A discussion involves differences of opinion, whereas the concept of discourse that we use instead implies a pattern of similarities in statements.
Moreover, there is a range of linguistic perspectives on discourse, and they are
much more engaged with the ways in which language is used. Linguists often see
conversation to constitute a discourse, and an analysis of discourse may focus on
how language is used in producing opinion. Social scientists also often apply elements of linguistic discourse analyses.
But the purpose of discourse analysis in the social sciences is not to produce
knowledge about language as such. The purpose is rather to chart to what extent
and how discourses structure our views on particular topics, and to examine
whether there are particular groups of actors who exercise power by contributing
substantially to this structuration.
3.1 · The Political Economy of Bioprospecting