The discursive production and impairment of public trust through rhetorical representations of science: the case of global climate change

Smart, Graham

doi:10.1007/978-1-137-29556-9_16

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Hajer notes that emblematic environmental issues, like climate change, may draw on discourse about law, economics, the natural sciences, and political philosophy, among many others, often in a single instance of communication. Different scholars have outlined a number of separate, and at times overlapping, conceptual maps o f the potential environmental discourses that have typically animated environmental politics (see Dryzek, 1997;Dryzek & Stevenson 2011;BSckstrand & Lovbrand, 2007Brulle, 2008Brulle, & 2009Teravainen, 2010;Doulton & Brown, 2009;Smart, 2013).…”

Section: -Discourse Coalitions and Methodological Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A review of literature on discourse coalitions and Hajerian discourse analysis has shown a fair degree of fidelity to this methodological approach, often combining some mix of textual analysis and interviews, with some exceptions (cf. Smart, 2011Smart, & 2013Thomas & Littlewood, 2010;Teravainen, 2010;and Fogel 2007).…”

Section: -Discourse Coalitions and Methodological Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change advocacy and ecological modernization : the symbolic politics of carbon tax communication in British Columbia

Patrick¹

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Section: -Discourse Coalitions and Methodological Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: -Discourse Coalitions and Methodological Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change advocacy and ecological modernization : the symbolic politics of carbon tax communication in British Columbia

Patrick¹

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“…One particular area of focus in studies of the rhetoric of science involves the various rhetorical tropes that scientists adopt to persuade their audience (Fahnestock, 1999;Graves, 2005; Harris, 2009;Keith & Rehg, 2008). This research has identified many strategies used in science, such as the use of argumentation (Graves, 2011), framing (Dahl, 2015), metaphor (Journet, 2010), and narrative (Johnson, Eckland, & Lincoln, 2014) (Smart, 2012;Smart & Falconer, forthcoming). Such strategies and tropes may play a part in recontextualizing expert-produced science for use by policy-makers, such as in the boundary object of a CCA report.…”

Section: Rhetorical Boundaries Of Science and Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One common instance of recontextualization is the popularization of science through science texts written for non-scientific audiences (Myers, 2003). Some forms of recontextualized science for non-expert audiences include science in popular press, such as full-length books, the media, and science blogs (Dahl, 2015;Smart, 2011Smart, , 2012. Scientists have been shown to be discursively reflexive in recontextualizing their knowledge for non-expert audiences (Leith & Vanclay, 2015;Morgendorff, Molder, van Woerkum, & Gremman, 2016).…”

Section: Moving Knowledge Between Science and Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Providing Science Advice: An Ethnography of the Council of Canadian Academies’ Boundary Work of Recontextualizing Expert-Produced Scientific Knowledge for Canadian Government Policy-Makers

Falconer¹

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My study is an ethnographic account of the collaborative discursive activity of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA), a non-profit advisory organization that contracts with government clients to perform "boundary work" which includes taking expert-produced scientific knowledge and transforming and re-purposing this knowledge into a science-based discourse that is accessible and useful for government policy-makers. The CCA works at armslength from its government clients in producing science-related information for policy-makers, an activity that draws on the expertise of a multidisciplinary panel of invited outside experts and the CCA staff. Using data collected at the CCA between 2013 and 2018, I explore the organization's culture, with a focus on its cultural constructs and tools. More specifically, its representations of key entities such as "science", "evidence", and "expertise". Concentrating my analysis on a 2017 CCA report produced for Transport Canada titled Older Canadians on the Move, I unpack the McKelvey, 2018; Hutchings & Stenseth, 2016; OECD, 2015). One approach used in providing science-informed advice to governments is through an advisory body closely connected with a national academy of science. Such an advisory body functions as an intermediary, nongovernment organization (NGO) mandated to interpret expert-produced scientific knowledge and communicate the relevant meaning of this expert-produced knowledge for use by government policy-makers in a form that is accessible and useful to them (Gluckman, 2014). Two well-known examples of such organizations are the National Academies of Science in the United States' National Research Council and the Royal Society in England's Science Policy Expert Advisory Committee. In Canada, the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) performs this role by providing science-based advice to Canadian government policy-makers in the form of advisory reports, a kind of "boundary object" (Star & Gruesemer, 1989)-that is, an artefact, such as a report, that crosses the boundary of science or policy and is useable in either domain without becoming something entirely new. Government policy-making is a multi-faceted, solutions-oriented practice in which policy-makers attempt to resolve societal issues (Cairney, 2016; Tehara, 2010; Theodoulou, 2013). In Canada, as elsewhere, policy-making is a political process involving elected and unelected officials in national, provincial, and municipal institutions. At the federal level, Canadian policy is enacted through an Act of Parliament, which involves a process of deliberation among elected Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons and unelected Senators in the House of the Senate (Bejermi, 2010). Policy-making is an activity in which policy-makers use this knowledge to identify and choose between alternative ends and means while weighing competing factors such as public values, cost, efficiency, security, and liberty (Douglas, 2009; Dunn, 2013). One way that researchers have sought to understand the relationship between...

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“…Indeed, the issue of climate change is historically unprecedented, extremely complex, and potentially devastating. In addition, climate change can be seen as a "super-wicked problem", as time is an enemy, the actors responsible for the problem have the least motivation towards addressing it, and no institutional framework exists to adequately confront the problem (Smart, 2012). Furthermore, the solutions to climate change are "difficult to recognize because of complex interdependencies in the system affected; a solution to one aspect of the problem often reveals or creates other, even more complex, problems demanding further solutions" (Hulme, 2009, p.334…”

Section: Public Opinion and Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change denial in Canada : an evaluation of the Fraser Institute and Friends of Science positions

Sperl¹

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Anthropogenic climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our civilization, yet collective action is being hindered by the existence and promotion of a climate denial discourse. This research uses discourse analysis to critically examine the climate-related online web-output of two prominent climate change denial organizations found in Canada: the Friends of Science and the Fraser Institute. Rooted in the climate denial literature, and drawing on the framework of Argumentative Discourse Analysis, this research demonstrates the existence of a 'discourse-coalition' working to counteract the creation of meaningful climate policy in Canada over the last decade. The findings of this analysis support previous conclusions about the nature and purpose of the climate denial industry, thus showing that the general denial discourse is highly resilient over time and space. It is further argued that that climate denial in Canada is part of a wider philosophical struggle linked to the modern conservative movement defending the Dominant Social Paradigm. This work has been both a struggle and an incredible journey of self-development. I am pleased to say that, looking back at it, I have both learned about the subject under study and, perhaps more importantly, have learned something about myself. Indeed, this journey has sparked new questions in how I wish to live my life and what path I should follow. For this new and unexpected perspective I am incredibly grateful. However, this thesis would never have been achievable without the support of my supervisor Mike Brklacich. His constant patience and encouragement despite my changing ideas, life priorities, nagging doubts, and confusion during the process has been a blessing. I have also greatly appreciated the 'hands-off approach he has taken in allowing me to make this my own thesis while still providing constructive support. Second I'd like to give a truly heartfelt thank you to Chris Russill, for agreeing to be my advisor and for providing excellent feedback, encouragement, and for being a part of the thesis from the beginning. The expertise and support of my committee members (Mike and Chris) has proved invaluable and without them I cannot imagine this project coming to fruition. I'd also like to acknowledge my friends and family for the support they have provided. Most importantly I'd like to thank Gen for her encouragement, understanding, and patience with me during this time. I'd also like to thank Taylor, Jacquie, and Jon for planting the idea of doing a Master's degree in the first place in my mind. Last, I'd like to thank my family for their words of wisdom that have often guided me through the frustrations and tests of endurance that I have experienced while working on this project.

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The discursive production and impairment of public trust through rhetorical representations of science: the case of global climate change

Cited by 4 publications

References 11 publications

Climate change advocacy and ecological modernization : the symbolic politics of carbon tax communication in British Columbia

Climate change advocacy and ecological modernization : the symbolic politics of carbon tax communication in British Columbia

Providing Science Advice: An Ethnography of the Council of Canadian Academies’ Boundary Work of Recontextualizing Expert-Produced Scientific Knowledge for Canadian Government Policy-Makers

Climate change denial in Canada : an evaluation of the Fraser Institute and Friends of Science positions

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