Research presentation
Wesley Tourangeau, PhD candidate
School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Power and discourse: Pairing theory with method in food and agricultural research
The purpose of this talk is to illustrate how an expanded conception of power can be paired with sociological discourse analysis, and how this pairing can be utilized within critical analyses of food and agricultural systems. I argue that a broader approach to power is needed for understanding the complex relationships, conditions, and structures within these systems. Through such an approach, power is found in the agency of actors and organizations (the influences some actors have over others), as well as the norms, histories, and ideologies which constitute the background conditions of everyday life. Discourse analysis sheds light on these varied forms of power in food and agricultural debates. Many contested issues, such as GMOs, seed-saving, and supply management, play out in a variety of discursive arenas, from parliamentary debates to local news coverage. As representations of social life, discourses can be examined for textual, contextual, and ideological characteristics. This talk illustrates how an analysis of discourse helps to reveal the complex nature of power, and point to new ways for producing change.