Chapter 4
Theoretical Framework
Throughout this book, critical theoretical perspectives guide my thinking around
power hierarchies and development. I draw on post-structural theoretical perspectives to consider how power, discourse, subjectivity and agency appear in social
investment experts’ narratives. These provide the tools for challenging taken-forgranted assumptions about O&G social investment and considering how it might be
reimagined.
Three main sections comprise this chapter. The first defines my understandings of
‘power’ in reference to the work of several critical theorists including Freire, Escobar,
Andreotti, Shrestha and Foucault. The second explains my use of ‘discourse’ as a
way of examining understandings of O&G social investment discourses that emerge
in social investment experts’ narratives and social investment guidelines. Finally, the
third section discusses the concepts of subjectivity and agency as they inform my
understandings of participants’ (and own) positioning in relation to social investment
practices.
4.1 Power
In this section, I explain how I draw on the work of Freire, Escobar, Andreotti,
Shrestha and Foucault to conceptualise power in this research. Each conceptualises
power slightly differently, but together, they provide me with critical tools for thinking
about power hierarchies and power fluidity in relation to O&G social investment.
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
R. Costa Camões Rabello, Understandings of Social Investment in the Oil and Gas Sector,
Approaches to Global Sustainability, Markets, and Governance,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6556-8_4
43
Theoretical Framework
Throughout this book, critical theoretical perspectives guide my thinking around
power hierarchies and development. I draw on post-structural theoretical perspectives to consider how power, discourse, subjectivity and agency appear in social
investment experts’ narratives. These provide the tools for challenging taken-forgranted assumptions about O&G social investment and considering how it might be
reimagined.
Three main sections comprise this chapter. The first defines my understandings of
‘power’ in reference to the work of several critical theorists including Freire, Escobar,
Andreotti, Shrestha and Foucault. The second explains my use of ‘discourse’ as a
way of examining understandings of O&G social investment discourses that emerge
in social investment experts’ narratives and social investment guidelines. Finally, the
third section discusses the concepts of subjectivity and agency as they inform my
understandings of participants’ (and own) positioning in relation to social investment
practices.
4.1 Power
In this section, I explain how I draw on the work of Freire, Escobar, Andreotti,
Shrestha and Foucault to conceptualise power in this research. Each conceptualises
power slightly differently, but together, they provide me with critical tools for thinking
about power hierarchies and power fluidity in relation to O&G social investment.
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
R. Costa Camões Rabello, Understandings of Social Investment in the Oil and Gas Sector,
Approaches to Global Sustainability, Markets, and Governance,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6556-8_4
43