6.3 Working for Discourses
81
Fig. 6.3 Working for discourses of social investment
As Fig. 6.3 illustrates, in my interviews, where participants drew on working for
discourses, governments retained full control of the selection and design of social
investment. In contrast, O&G companies and communities had no part in deciding
or shaping the social programmes, which apparently restricted O&G companies and
communities’ sense of control over the social investment programme.
Arguably, social investment conceptualised under working for discourses tends to
increase governments and communities’ levels of dependency upon O&G resources
(see Fig. 6.3). Government depends on O&G social investments to address its’ developmental agenda and communities depends on O&G social investments to have
access to basic social services provision. However, O&G companies are not dependent on the social investment resources and/or outcomes, which means that as long
as O&G companies implement the social programme, a legal operational license is
secured. In my study, the participants gave examples of this type of social investment, such as the provision of power lines in a specific region. The following analysis describes participants’ understandings of social investment constructed through
working for discourses.
81
Fig. 6.3 Working for discourses of social investment
As Fig. 6.3 illustrates, in my interviews, where participants drew on working for
discourses, governments retained full control of the selection and design of social
investment. In contrast, O&G companies and communities had no part in deciding
or shaping the social programmes, which apparently restricted O&G companies and
communities’ sense of control over the social investment programme.
Arguably, social investment conceptualised under working for discourses tends to
increase governments and communities’ levels of dependency upon O&G resources
(see Fig. 6.3). Government depends on O&G social investments to address its’ developmental agenda and communities depends on O&G social investments to have
access to basic social services provision. However, O&G companies are not dependent on the social investment resources and/or outcomes, which means that as long
as O&G companies implement the social programme, a legal operational license is
secured. In my study, the participants gave examples of this type of social investment, such as the provision of power lines in a specific region. The following analysis describes participants’ understandings of social investment constructed through
working for discourses.