Zoekresultaten

Challenging oppressive discourses in the digital public sphere

Key discourses behind the maritime disputes

Presentation given at the online conference Talking the Cyprus Issue Togehter : Maritime Disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean - Session 2

How Change Management is influenced by differences in professional discourses.

This article describes the process of organizational change due to technological evolutions, suggesting that community-specific differences in discourse may have a considerable influence on its success. The questions for this study focus on: 1) how do we define a technically oriented employee who has to cope with organizational change? 2) Which factors determine the reaction to organizational change projects in which these technically oriented employees are involved? And 3) what are the consequences of these specific characters of technically oriented employees for implementing change programs in the most effective manner? First, while the present studies on professional communication do not pay any attention to change management, the current models of change management also barely pay attention to (professional) discourse. Second, we examine culture, which can be divided into national culture (NC), organizational culture (OC), and professional culture (PC). In this case study, we focus on the professional cultures of specific (change) managers and technicians and their discourse in the utilities sector. After this, we describe the case study, which exemplifies how change results can be influenced. It seems that in a technical environment, the change process and interventions need to be specific, concrete, and to the point. However, there also seems to be a dilemma between universal (e.g. mechanistic and formal) and contingency (e.g. organic, informal and emergent) approaches to the change process. The results of this study show the need to analyze cultures through discourse and through PC as a way to differentiate discourse between technical and non-technical employees. We suggest further research on three aspects that interfere and influence the change effort: context, discourse, and professional cultures of (change) managers and technicians.

We must not engage in the blind glorification of sport’: Christian orthodox youths negotiate dominant societal and alternative Reformed sport discourses

There are approximately 250,000 Orthodox Reformed Christians (ORC) in the Netherlands, who live according to a strict adherence to the Bible. The ORC dissociate themselves from the mainstream sport discourse in the Netherlands that regards sport as a societal good. We draw on post-structural perspectives to explore how governmentality enables Dutch ORC youths to resist dominant societal discourses about sport. We used four dimensions to examine how governmentality acts on individuals in: rationality, history, culture and technology. We analysed publications that concern themselves specifically with sport within the denomination of the ORC church and also conducted a combination of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 32 ORC youths. The results show the power of governmentality and also how ambiguity enables moments of resistance to emerge.

Critically Exploring Discourse on Migration and Integration in Occupational Science

Purpose of the Session:Migration studies has seen a growing number of critical authors who over the last decade have participated in reflexive works critiquing the Eurocentric focus of migration studies and how this has historically contributed to problematic theories, categories, and terminologies. These problematic and normative discourses have been perpetuating stereotypical and othering images, ideals and ideologies of migration and integration. With a growing number of publications within Occupational Science on migration and integration, the need for similar exercises of critical reflexivity become increasingly evident. This session aims to stimulate this conversation and explore future possibilities to continue the critical reflexive exercise. Structure and Method of Participant Engagement:The session will begin with a brief introduction to the ongoing discourse analysis which the authors are conducting on articles on migration and integration in Occupational Science and the highlights of the hegemonic and marginal discourses within this field. Participants will then work in groups to explore three questions to stimulate a discussion on critical reflexivity. Within each group, pieces of text will be presented, gathered from the analysis conducted by the authors, to situate the discussion and generate a critical dialogue. Three Discussion Questions:What role has research within Occupational Science played in perpetuating problematic categories in migration and integration in an unproblematic way?What assumptions rest within terms such as migrant, integration and ‘refugees’ which are used regularly within research in Occupational Science? Which theoretical resources could serve to advance the understanding of migration, displacement, and dignifying life?

An Occupational Perspective on Discourse in Practice: The presentation of desirable occupations within texts used in Dutch refugee integration programs

BackgroundRefugees encounter texts such as course books, pamphlets and exams during mandatory integration in the Netherlands. Texts present explicit or implicit messages to refugees on “successful” integration and citizenship.The What’s the Problem Represented to Be? (WPR) approach from Carol Bacchi, allows us to understand how texts are a presentation of governments see problems, and what is needing to be fixed. Applying an occupational lens facilitates identification of occupations promoted as desirable or discouraged towards those striving for citizenship.Relevance:Discourse in integration programs can be considered as a tool of governance, aiming to promote “acceptable” everyday occupations during the transition to citizenship.Aim:This presentation aims to present findings of an initial analysis for discussion. The main aim of the research project, is to explore the impact of differing discourses in integration programs in the Netherlands, including government and citizen programs, to understand the consequences of these discourses on the lives of refugees.Identify Gaps: This research addresses important gaps in current integration research. Firstly, this research focuses on texts in practice, while previous research has largely focused on the policy texts. Secondly, this research program will focus on not only government integration programs, but also those who are being initiated and facilitated by citizens in the Netherlands’.Theoretical Foundation:Theoretical approach inspired by Foucault governmentality. Critical analysis of discourse in texts is informed by Bacchi’s WPR approach. Concept of citizenship will be framed with Isin’s concept of acts of citizenship. Theories from occupational science, such as occupational possibilities, will facilitating understanding of how occupations are promoted in practice.Conclusion:Textual documents, utilized in practice, are important to include when exploring the relationship between discourse and everyday doing. It is important to consider discourse as a tool of governance and how it impacts on the occupational engagement of refugees.