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Discourse analysis
ID BTBLGR-CMP-23
Chapter 0.18
Constitutive Discourses
Constitutive discourses actively shape our perceptions and understanding of reality by representing fundamental linguistic and social practices that are influenced by power structures and norms. Theoretical approaches, particularly those by Foucault, illuminate the connection between discourse, knowledge, and power.
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BTBLGR-CMP-23
Update from Apr 14, 2025
An Analysis of Their Definition, Theoretical Foundations, and Mechanisms of Action
Introduction
The concept of discourse has developed into a central analytical tool in the social sciences and humanities over the past decades. Given the increasing recognition that social phenomena must be understood in the context of communication and the production of meaning rather than in isolation, discourse analysis is gaining relevance. This report is dedicated to a specific category within discourse research: constitutive discourses. The aim of this work is to present a comprehensive definition, the theoretical foundations, and illustrative examples of constitutive discourses to enable a deep understanding of this complex concept.
Deconstruction of the Terms: Discourse and Constitutive
Definition of "Discourse"
The term "discourse" can be etymologically traced back to the Latin "discursus," which literally means "running apart" and figuratively "discussion" or "communication" 1. Initially, discourse can be translated as "treatise, conversation, explanation" 1. However, this original meaning has expanded and differentiated considerably in the scientific contexts of the social sciences and humanities.
A particularly influential conceptualization of discourse comes from Michel Foucault. For Foucault, discourse is primarily understood as a practice that systematically shapes the objects it talks about 1. He sees discourses as instances that determine what can be said and thus create order 1. Discourse always exists only as specific "discursive formations," which Foucault essentially defines as a certain number of statements that show specific regularities in content and form 1. His concept of discourse includes both the rules of development and formation and the order created by it. According to Foucault, everything that can be known and said about reality takes the form of discourses. For him, it is essential that discourses are understood as practices that co-constitute the objects they refer to and are subject to analyzable rules and processes of change 1.
From a linguistic perspective, discourse is understood as language use that goes beyond the level of the individual sentence and often refers to specific topics or purposes 3. In linguistics, it is widely believed that discourses are constitutive for the intellectual shaping of the public space and thus play a central role in how we experience, unlock, and shape our world through and in language 3. It is emphasized that discourses are significantly determined by their corpora, i.e., collections of texts 3. Linguistic discourse analysis focuses on social topics and is located within the framework of language-related constructivism 3.
The sociological perspective views discourse as a linguistic practice in which meanings and knowledge are formed and conveyed in a society 1. Accordingly, discourses are not seen independently and separately from societal conditions as a whole, but rather are conditioned by them and, conversely, influence and shape these societal conditions 1. Discourse theory in sociology systematically deals with the significance of discourses in the process of the societal construction of reality 2. Here, discourses are understood as regulated patterns of order that are inextricably linked to forms of power and in which the work of construction is organized 2.
Definition of "Constitutive"
The adjective "constitutive" is derived from the Latin "constitutus," meaning "fundamental," "supporting," or "founding" 5. In general, "constitutive" describes a condition, property, or characteristic that is crucial for the definition, appearance, or success of a person or thing and therefore cannot be omitted 5.
In the legal context, the "constitutive effect" of a legal act results in a right or legal relationship being established, terminated, or shaped 5. This contrasts with the "declaratory effect," where an existing right or legal relationship is merely established, witnessed, or clarified 5. An example of this is company formation: the company is formed declaratively by the articles of association but constitutively only through entry in the commercial register 5.
In business administration, a "constitutive decision" (or meta-decision) refers to a decision of fundamental importance for a company that must be made only once or very rarely 8. Such decisions determine the principal mode of operation of the company and are of existential importance. In contrast are operational (process) decisions made in day-to-day business 8. The formation of a company itself is an example of a constitutive decision 8.
The term "constitutive" is also used in other fields, such as in mathematics as a "constitutive equation" or in materials science as a "material model" 5.
Synthesis of the Concept of Constitutive Discourses
The combination of the definitions of "discourse" and "constitutive" leads to the understanding that constitutive discourses represent fundamental linguistic and social practices that actively shape our perceptions, understanding, knowledge, and ultimately the reality in which we live 1. They play a crucial role in bringing certain objects, phenomena, and social constructs forward as objects of knowledge and discussion 1.
Constitutive discourses are not mere reflections of an already existing reality but actively participate in its creation and maintenance 1. They operate through established rules, norms, and power relations and thus determine what can be said, thought, and done within a particular social context 1. From this perspective, the reality we experience is always mediated by discursive frameworks and constructed within them 2.
Theoretical Foundations of Constitutive Discourses
Michel Foucault's Contribution
The works of Michel Foucault are of fundamental importance for understanding constitutive discourses. He saw discourses as practices that systematically shape objects of knowledge 1. His concept of "discursive formations" emphasizes the role of statements as constitutive elements of discourse 1. Foucault highlighted the inseparable connection between discourse, knowledge, and power 2. For him, power is not only repressive but also productive, shaping knowledge and social realities 11. Control over discourses thus confers social power 3.
Furthermore, Foucault developed the concept of the "dispositif," which he understood as an ensemble of discourses, institutions, and practices directed at a specific phenomenon, such as human sexuality 1. His archaeological and genealogical approaches to analyzing the historical formation of discourses provide valuable methodological tools for examining constitutive processes 9. Foucault's theories thus offer a critical perspective on the social construction of knowledge and reality.
Social Constructivism
Social constructivism forms a broader theoretical framework that supports the idea of constitutive discourses. This perspective assumes that knowledge and reality are socially constructed through interaction and communication 2. Language plays a central role here as a tool of construction 3. Key thinkers of social constructivism, like Berger and Luckmann, have significantly influenced discourse research 3. The assumption that our access to the world is inseparably linked to language is a core point of constructivism and underscores the constitutive function of discourses 3.
Linguistic Approaches to Discourse Analysis
Linguistics, due to the linguistic nature of discourses, has developed differentiated methods for their analysis 3. From a linguistic point of view, discourses are constitutive for the shaping of public space and our world experience through language 3. Linguistic discourse analysis considers language use, the heterogeneity of the language system, and semantic theories like frame semantics 3. Corpus linguistics also plays a role in the analysis of discourses by examining large text corpora 3.
Poststructuralist Perspectives
Poststructuralism emphasizes the linguistic condition of societal states and sees intervention in discourses as a central site of the production of hierarchies 3. This theoretical direction criticizes fixed meanings and focuses on the instability and diversity of interpretations 25. Thinkers like Derrida and Lacan have significantly influenced discourse research within poststructuralism 24. Poststructuralism thus expands the understanding of constitutive discourses by highlighting the fluidity of meaning and the role of interpretation.
Mechanisms of Constitution: How Discourses Shape Reality
The Role of Language and Semantics
Language is the primary medium through which constitutive discourses operate. Through word choice, grammar, and rhetorical devices, language frames and constructs our understanding of the world 3. Linguistic perspectivization creates socially shared meanings and models specific images of reality 29. Discourses provide frameworks to structure complex reality according to established orders of knowledge 3. Metaphors, narratives, and other linguistic tools play a crucial role in shaping perceptions and constructing shared understandings 4.
Power Relations and Social Practices
Discourse and power are inextricably linked. Discourses reflect and reinforce existing power structures 2. They establish norms, define what is acceptable and unacceptable, and marginalize certain perspectives 4. Social practices are closely interwoven with discourses and influence one another 1. The dynamics of power are thus an integral part of the functioning of constitutive discourses.
The Establishment of Norms and Truths
Constitutive discourses significantly contribute to the establishment of social norms, values, and beliefs 2. They define what is considered "true" or "false" within a given context and thus influence the production and dissemination of knowledge 2. Discourses also play a role in shaping collective memory and historical narratives 29.
The Interaction of Discourse and Reality
Constitutive discourses do not simply mirror an objective reality but actively participate in its construction 1. The reality, as we understand it, is always mediated through discursive frameworks 2. This relationship is complex and the subject of an ongoing debate between constructivist and realist perspectives 3. It is crucial to emphasize that the reality constructed through discourses can have very real and tangible consequences 1.
Conclusion
Constitutive discourses are fundamental linguistic and social practices that actively shape our perceptions, understanding, knowledge, and the reality in which we live. Understanding this concept is crucial for analyzing social phenomena, power dynamics, and the construction of knowledge and reality. Theoretical frameworks, especially those of Michel Foucault, social constructivism, and linguistic approaches, have significantly contributed to our understanding of constitutive discourses. The recognition of the constitutive power of discourses has practical implications in various fields such as social policy, communication, and education. Future research could deal with the specific mechanisms of constitution through different types of discourses, the interaction of competing constitutive discourses, or the role of new media in shaping contemporary constitutive discourses.
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ID BTBLGR-CMP-23
Chapter 0.18
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