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Sustainable Development As An Organizing Principle For Discursive Democracy?

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick O'Mahony

    (Centre for European Social Research, University College, Cork, Eire)

  • Tracey Skillington

    (Centre for European Social Research, University College, Cork, Eire)

Abstract

This paper explores how different collective types of actor (for example, business, policy or social movement representatives), with distinct systems of beliefs, category schemes and institutional projects, have become engaged in the production of a variety of symbolic representations of 'sustainable development'. Sustainable development has become a shared concept amongst certain actors, allowing a minimum level of consensus to prevail. Minimum consensus has facilitated the cultivation of a more structured argumentation space with regard to this issue and the potential for attainment of a new level of discursivity between types of actor who now share common ground with respect to certain themes. However, actor differences become apparent when institutional logics which condition behavioural practice and mediate ongoing communicative interaction on sustainable development are studied more closely. Taken together, a number of factors can form a barrier to meaningful discursive exchange and limit the potential for 'discursive' democracy. This paper examines such factors as they relate to the themes of technological innovation, the principle of subsidiarity, and preferred means of environmental regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick O'Mahony & Tracey Skillington, 1996. "Sustainable Development As An Organizing Principle For Discursive Democracy?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 4(1), pages 42-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:4:y:1996:i:1:p:42-51
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1719(199603)4:1<42::AID-SD35>3.0.CO;2-E
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    Cited by:

    1. Dianne Bolton & Terry Landells, 2015. "Reconceptualizing Power Relations as Sustainable Business Practice," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(7), pages 604-616, November.
    2. Delyse Springett, 2005. "‘Education for sustainability’ in the business studies curriculum: a call for a critical agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(3), pages 146-159, May.
    3. Calbert H. Douglas, 2006. "Small island states and territories: sustainable development issues and strategies - challenges for changing islands in a changing world," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(2), pages 75-80.
    4. Delyse Springett, 2003. "An ‘incitement to discourse’: benchmarking as a springboard to sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, January.

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