Discourse Analysis as Social Critique: Discursive and Non-Discursive Realities in Critical Social Research PDF
Preview Discourse Analysis as Social Critique: Discursive and Non-Discursive Realities in Critical Social Research
Discourse E Y RS Analysis as RU AO NC Social Critique I LS PDI I C N S Discursive and Non-Discursive DIS I TE Realities in Critical Social Research SI OD PU T S Benno Herzog Postdisciplinary Studies in Discourse Series Editors Johannes Angermuller University of Warwick Coventry , United Kingdom Judith Baxter Halescombe House Minehead , United Kingdom P ostdisciplinary Studies in Discourse engages in the exchange between discourse theory and analysis while putting emphasis on the intel- lectual challenges in discourse research. Moving beyond disciplinary divisions in today’s social sciences, the contributions deal with critical issues at the intersections between language and society. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/14534 Benno Herzog Discourse Analysis as Social Critique Discursive and Non-Discursive Realities in Critical Social Research Benno Herzog Dept of Sociology & Social Anthropology University of Valencia Spain ISBN 978-1-137-56907-3 ISBN 978-1-137-56908-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-56908-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016953470 © Th e Editor(s) (if applicable) and Th e Author(s) 2016 Th e author(s) has/have asserted their right(s) to be identifi ed as the author(s) of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988. Th is work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and trans- mission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Th e use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Th e publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Th is Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature Th e registered company is Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London To all debased, enslaved, abandoned, despicable beings. Introd uction Th is book aims to bridge the gap between normative theories and empiri- cal research. In social science and humanities, we can distinguish roughly three posi- tions towards normativity. Especially in social and political philosophy, we are quite accustomed to scholars who adopt a clear, normative stance, off ering compelling arguments for or against certain social and politi- cal institutions and ethical behaviour. Th e main problem is that we can fi nd several, even contradictory, r easonable positions. Although the debate between these positions can lead to common views, it does not necessarily do so, and often, there remain reasonable but opposing viewpoints. Th is may lead to the suspicion that, ultimately, the scholars engaged in these debates are not following universal norms but a particular worldview. In social science, however, we are quite accustomed to the claim of more or less objective, value-free, or impartial research. Scholars who fol- low this view often attempt either to describe reality or to encounter causal relations and underlying structures. We can fi nd this approach in both quantitative and qualitative social research. Th e aim of this approach is to provide the most accurate information about social reality. Normative stances are outside the scope of the descriptions off ered by these research- ers. Th e information is provided to political institutions so that they can make informed decisions based on research outcomes and to the civil soci- ety that should be empowered through scientifi c knowledge. Although vii viii Introduction this approach claims to be value-free, it encompasses at least one nor- mative stance, namely, that it is politics or civil society, not a particular researcher, that s hould decide the future of society. Moreover, having scien- tifi c knowledge at hand is b etter than not having that type of knowledge. A third position combines both approaches. Scholars following this approach conduct empirical research on a social phenomenon and then use a normative position to denounce the encountered situation as unjust. For example, one could describe the structure, causes, and eff ects of dis- courses on migration and then denounce a specifi c discourse as racist. Sometimes the normative stance is defended very openly, but often the arrangement of the results merely presents suggestive images, thus leading the reader to the desired conclusion. Th is denial of the suggestive force of the presentation of scientifi c work can mislead some of the scholars work- ing with this approach into seeing themselves as neutral observers. I ndependent of whether normative claims and empirical research are presented together or separately, logically they are disconnected from each other in all of the cases described. On the one hand, a particular normative position might be that of a social and political philosopher, political and social groups, or the researcher; on the other hand, we have the sound elaboration of empirical research. In this book, I aim to over- come this division between the normative stance and “objective” social science. Th is overcoming goes back to the long tradition of immanent critique. Th e idea can be roughly understood as conducting an empiri- cally sound analysis of the normative content pursued in everyday life by the social actors themselves, thus taking not an own, particular norma- tive stance but the stance (implicitly) followed by the people. Th e approach presented in this book aims to combine two intellectual traditions. On the one hand, we see the tradition of the Frankfurt School, with its Critical Th eory and its theoretical elaborations of immanent cri- tique. On the other hand, we see the empirical “toolbox” of Foucauldian discourse analysis. Over the last decade, this toolbox has received impor- tant input from sociology, broadening its analytical tools and, thus, enabling a combined and structured analysis not only of language use but also of other elements, such as practices or materialities. Th ese two traditions are clearly visible in the structure of the text. Th e fi rst chapter, which addresses theoretical approaches to critique, Introduction ix brings us to the logics of immanent critique as present in the tradi- tion of post-Marxism. However, whenever possible, I have attempted to bring this tradition into fruitful contact with Foucault and other post-structuralist authors. Th e aim of this part is to show the strand of the development of immanent critique and its connection points and controversies with post-structuralist approaches. As we will see, there is an important “empirical defi cit” in this philosophically promising tradition. I n the second chapter, I develop the analytical tools that we can use to overcome the “empirical defi cit”. Although this chapter primarily draws on qualitative sociological discourse analysis in a post-structuralist tradi- tion, its tools are discussed in relation to the previously presented theo- retical approach so that they can be made to fi t into a coherent approach. Th is approach, which I call Discourse Analysis as Social Critique, aims at social critique in the tradition of the Frankfurt School but does so with the help of analytical insights from discourse studies. Although I attempt to develop neither the theory nor the analyti- cal tools as detached from social phenomenon, the fi rst two chapters might seem somewhat abstract, especially to the less-experienced reader. Th erefore, the last chapter is dedicated to the presentation of concrete empirical examples. Each example will shed light on a specifi c aspect of the approach presented. Th e last chapter is roughly divided into two parts. Whereas the fi rst part presents examples directly related to the fi rst two chapters, the second part gives an outlook on alternative methods of application. It does so by theoretical refl ection and practical examples on how aesthetic analysis could be used to perceive the injustices done to muted and therefore socially excluded subjects. In bridging Critical Th eory and post-structuralism, the text invites researchers from both traditions to critically examine the arguments pre- sented in this book. Social critique must be both discussed and applied in empirical work. Th e discussion of this approach in the context of other theoretical traditions and empirical research in a wide variety of fi elds is a task that remains to be accomplished. Th e further development of society’s ability to overcome situations of social injustice depends on the intellectual and practical work of its members. In that sense, I hope that this book makes a humble contribution. x Introduction Chapter 1 Th e chapter addresses theoretical approaches to social critique and leads to the logics of immanent critique as present in the tradition of post- Marxism, especially in the Frankfurt School. However, whenever possi- ble, it attempts to bring this tradition into fruitful contact with Foucault and other post- structuralist authors. Th e aim of this part is to show the strand of the development of immanent critique and its connection points and controversies with post-structuralist approaches. Th e chapter shows that there is an important “empirical defi cit” in the nonetheless promising philosophical tradition of post-Marxism. Chapter 2 Th e second chapter develops the analytical tools to overcome the “empir- ical defi cit” of current social critique. Although this chapter primarily draws on qualitative sociological discourse analysis in a post-structuralist tradition, its tools are discussed in relation to the previously presented theoretical approach so that they can be made to fi t into a coherent approach. Th is approach, which is called Discourse Analysis as Social Critique, aims at social critique in the tradition of the Frankfurt School but does so with the help of analytical insights from discourse studies. Chapter 3 Th e third chapter is dedicated to the presentation of concrete empiri- cal examples. Each example will shed light on a specifi c aspect of the approach presented. Th is last chapter is roughly divided into two parts. Whereas the fi rst part presents examples directly related to the fi rst two chapters, the sec- ond part gives an outlook on alternative methods of application. It does so by theoretical refl ection and practical examples on how aesthetic anal- ysis could be used to perceive the injustices done to muted and therefore socially excluded subjects.
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