IES Working Papers

IES Working Paper 2/2010

Author: Nikki Slocum-Bradley

Abstract:

Proposing a discursive approach to studying identity, this paper presents Positioning Theory as a theoretical framework for conceptualizing the construction of identity in discourse. The Positioning Diamond is employed to analyse the discourse surrounding the Danish Euro referendum. The analysis reveals how identities are constructed in discourse that promotes a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote in the referendum, highlighting the generally implicit allocation of rights and duties to actors within a specific narrative context. The penultimate section discusses appropriate criteria for evaluating discursive accounts, distinguishing between cases in which truth, normative and ethical criteria are applicable. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of policy considerations and recommendations.

About the author:

Nikki Slocum-Bradley is a Research fellow of the Institute for European Studies and an
Associate Research Fellow at the United Nations University Centre for Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) in Belgium. Her research encompasses a broad range of issues at the nexus between psychology, sociology, politics and international relations. She has published in a variety of journals and books across disciplines, and edited Promoting Conflict or Peace through Identity (Ashgate, 2008). She has also authored a variety of background papers for policy forums.

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