Tackling Implementation Challenges though the Power of Discourse: A Literature Review

How might discursive power influence the implementation of ‘policy strategies’ for local economic development? With the interrelated challenges of poverty and inequality being more pressing than ever, there remains a... [ view full abstract ]

How might discursive power influence the implementation of ‘policy strategies’ for local economic development?

With the interrelated challenges of poverty and inequality being more pressing than ever, there remains a continuing need for public policy makers to add value to their support of local economies. Local economic ‘strategies’ are the means by which local government implements national government place- based economic policy.

This early stage literature review explores the intriguing prospect of how ‘discourse’ could be used as a strategic resource by practitioners to embed ideas, thereby enhancing the likelihood of implementation. The themes of language and its relationship with social action, power and argumentation, seem eminently suited to local government. Yet, discourse studies in this environment are comparatively rare.

The proposed research conceptualises growing inequality and inequitable economic distribution as ‘failures’ in achieving public policy goals. The discourse of ‘inclusive growth’ has emerged as a response to these problems and has become a Scottish Government policy priority. Achieving its implementation at the local level will require actors to think, act and behave in ways that support inclusive growth, while being subject to other, potentially competing discourses.

This first stage literature review explores how discourse analysis, an interpretive, social constructionist approach, might be applied to implementation, contrasting with methodologies more commonly used in the policy field. Four propositions are considered, concluding that there is sufficient evidence to take the research further. While methods are as yet undeveloped, Multiple Streams Analysis (Kingdon, 2011) may offer scope for adaptation, combined with Foucault-inspired approaches used in private sector settings to study competing discourses.

There are limitations inherent in discourse analytical methods, in the selectivity of material and researcher orientation, and the review is purposively delimited in the literatures chosen to illustrate discourse perspectives and emerging secondary literature reviews.

Keywords: discourse; implementation; local government; economic development strategy; inclusive growth