Table Of ContentDiscourse
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Y RS Analysis as
RU
AO
NC Social Critique
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LS
PDI
I
C
N
S Discursive and Non-Discursive
DIS I
TE Realities in Critical Social Research
SI
OD
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T
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Benno Herzog
Postdisciplinary Studies in Discourse
Series Editors
Johannes Angermuller
University of Warwick
Coventry , United Kingdom
Judith Baxter
Halescombe House
Minehead , United Kingdom
P ostdisciplinary Studies in Discourse engages in the exchange between
discourse theory and analysis while putting emphasis on the intel-
lectual challenges in discourse research. Moving beyond disciplinary
divisions in today’s social sciences, the contributions deal with critical
issues at the intersections between language and society.
More information about this series at
http://www.springer.com/series/14534
Benno Herzog
Discourse Analysis
as Social Critique
Discursive and Non-Discursive Realities
in Critical Social Research
Benno Herzog
Dept of Sociology & Social Anthropology
University of Valencia
Spain
ISBN 978-1-137-56907-3 ISBN 978-1-137-56908-0 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-56908-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016953470
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To all debased, enslaved, abandoned, despicable beings.
Introd uction
Th is book aims to bridge the gap between normative theories and empiri-
cal research.
In social science and humanities, we can distinguish roughly three posi-
tions towards normativity. Especially in social and political philosophy,
we are quite accustomed to scholars who adopt a clear, normative stance,
off ering compelling arguments for or against certain social and politi-
cal institutions and ethical behaviour. Th e main problem is that we can
fi nd several, even contradictory, r easonable positions. Although the debate
between these positions can lead to common views, it does not necessarily
do so, and often, there remain reasonable but opposing viewpoints. Th is
may lead to the suspicion that, ultimately, the scholars engaged in these
debates are not following universal norms but a particular worldview.
In social science, however, we are quite accustomed to the claim of
more or less objective, value-free, or impartial research. Scholars who fol-
low this view often attempt either to describe reality or to encounter causal
relations and underlying structures. We can fi nd this approach in both
quantitative and qualitative social research. Th e aim of this approach is
to provide the most accurate information about social reality. Normative
stances are outside the scope of the descriptions off ered by these research-
ers. Th e information is provided to political institutions so that they can
make informed decisions based on research outcomes and to the civil soci-
ety that should be empowered through scientifi c knowledge. Although
vii
viii Introduction
this approach claims to be value-free, it encompasses at least one nor-
mative stance, namely, that it is politics or civil society, not a particular
researcher, that s hould decide the future of society. Moreover, having scien-
tifi c knowledge at hand is b etter than not having that type of knowledge.
A third position combines both approaches. Scholars following this
approach conduct empirical research on a social phenomenon and then
use a normative position to denounce the encountered situation as unjust.
For example, one could describe the structure, causes, and eff ects of dis-
courses on migration and then denounce a specifi c discourse as racist.
Sometimes the normative stance is defended very openly, but often the
arrangement of the results merely presents suggestive images, thus leading
the reader to the desired conclusion. Th is denial of the suggestive force of
the presentation of scientifi c work can mislead some of the scholars work-
ing with this approach into seeing themselves as neutral observers.
I ndependent of whether normative claims and empirical research are
presented together or separately, logically they are disconnected from
each other in all of the cases described. On the one hand, a particular
normative position might be that of a social and political philosopher,
political and social groups, or the researcher; on the other hand, we have
the sound elaboration of empirical research. In this book, I aim to over-
come this division between the normative stance and “objective” social
science. Th is overcoming goes back to the long tradition of immanent
critique. Th e idea can be roughly understood as conducting an empiri-
cally sound analysis of the normative content pursued in everyday life by
the social actors themselves, thus taking not an own, particular norma-
tive stance but the stance (implicitly) followed by the people.
Th e approach presented in this book aims to combine two intellectual
traditions. On the one hand, we see the tradition of the Frankfurt School,
with its Critical Th eory and its theoretical elaborations of immanent cri-
tique. On the other hand, we see the empirical “toolbox” of Foucauldian
discourse analysis. Over the last decade, this toolbox has received impor-
tant input from sociology, broadening its analytical tools and, thus,
enabling a combined and structured analysis not only of language use
but also of other elements, such as practices or materialities.
Th ese two traditions are clearly visible in the structure of the text.
Th e fi rst chapter, which addresses theoretical approaches to critique,
Introduction ix
brings us to the logics of immanent critique as present in the tradi-
tion of post-Marxism. However, whenever possible, I have attempted
to bring this tradition into fruitful contact with Foucault and other
post-structuralist authors. Th e aim of this part is to show the strand of
the development of immanent critique and its connection points and
controversies with post-structuralist approaches. As we will see, there
is an important “empirical defi cit” in this philosophically promising
tradition.
I n the second chapter, I develop the analytical tools that we can use to
overcome the “empirical defi cit”. Although this chapter primarily draws
on qualitative sociological discourse analysis in a post-structuralist tradi-
tion, its tools are discussed in relation to the previously presented theo-
retical approach so that they can be made to fi t into a coherent approach.
Th is approach, which I call Discourse Analysis as Social Critique, aims at
social critique in the tradition of the Frankfurt School but does so with
the help of analytical insights from discourse studies.
Although I attempt to develop neither the theory nor the analyti-
cal tools as detached from social phenomenon, the fi rst two chapters
might seem somewhat abstract, especially to the less-experienced reader.
Th erefore, the last chapter is dedicated to the presentation of concrete
empirical examples. Each example will shed light on a specifi c aspect
of the approach presented. Th e last chapter is roughly divided into two
parts. Whereas the fi rst part presents examples directly related to the fi rst
two chapters, the second part gives an outlook on alternative methods
of application. It does so by theoretical refl ection and practical examples
on how aesthetic analysis could be used to perceive the injustices done to
muted and therefore socially excluded subjects.
In bridging Critical Th eory and post-structuralism, the text invites
researchers from both traditions to critically examine the arguments pre-
sented in this book. Social critique must be both discussed and applied
in empirical work. Th e discussion of this approach in the context of other
theoretical traditions and empirical research in a wide variety of fi elds
is a task that remains to be accomplished. Th e further development of
society’s ability to overcome situations of social injustice depends on the
intellectual and practical work of its members. In that sense, I hope that
this book makes a humble contribution.
x Introduction
Chapter 1
Th e chapter addresses theoretical approaches to social critique and leads
to the logics of immanent critique as present in the tradition of post-
Marxism, especially in the Frankfurt School. However, whenever possi-
ble, it attempts to bring this tradition into fruitful contact with Foucault
and other post- structuralist authors. Th e aim of this part is to show the
strand of the development of immanent critique and its connection
points and controversies with post-structuralist approaches. Th e chapter
shows that there is an important “empirical defi cit” in the nonetheless
promising philosophical tradition of post-Marxism.
Chapter 2
Th e second chapter develops the analytical tools to overcome the “empir-
ical defi cit” of current social critique. Although this chapter primarily
draws on qualitative sociological discourse analysis in a post-structuralist
tradition, its tools are discussed in relation to the previously presented
theoretical approach so that they can be made to fi t into a coherent
approach. Th is approach, which is called Discourse Analysis as Social
Critique, aims at social critique in the tradition of the Frankfurt School
but does so with the help of analytical insights from discourse studies.
Chapter 3
Th e third chapter is dedicated to the presentation of concrete empiri-
cal examples. Each example will shed light on a specifi c aspect of the
approach presented.
Th is last chapter is roughly divided into two parts. Whereas the fi rst
part presents examples directly related to the fi rst two chapters, the sec-
ond part gives an outlook on alternative methods of application. It does
so by theoretical refl ection and practical examples on how aesthetic anal-
ysis could be used to perceive the injustices done to muted and therefore
socially excluded subjects.
