Ideological hegemony in IS research on environmental sustainability

Stéphanie Missonier (), Florence Laval () and Aurélie Dudézert ()
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Stéphanie Missonier: HEC Lausanne - Faculté des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC Lausanne)
Florence Laval: IAE Poitiers - Institut d'Administration des Entreprises (IAE) - Poitiers - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers, CEREGE [Poitiers] - Centre de recherche en gestion - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers
Aurélie Dudézert: LITEM - Laboratoire en Innovation, Technologies, Economie et Management (EA 7363) - UEVE - Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne - Université Paris-Saclay - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], IMT-BS - TIM - Département Technologies, Information & Management - TEM - Télécom Ecole de Management - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris]

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Abstract: This paper critically examines ideological hegemony in Information Systems (IS) research on digital sustainability, particularly regarding environmental sustainability. While IS research largely promotes digital technologies as solutions to climate challenges, critical voices highlighting potential negative impacts remain marginal. Drawing on Critical Discourse Analysis (Wall et al., 2015), this study investigates dominant ideological assumptions shaping IS discourse and identifies overlooked perspectives. Through a critical literature review of top IS journals, we reveal a predominant techno-optimistic paradigm, emphasizing digital innovations' environmental benefits while neglecting sustainability challenges such as rebound effects and emissions from digital infrastructures. Our findings indicate an imbalance in academic discourse, where alternative viewpoints questioning digital technologies' ecological impact are underrepresented. By challenging these assumptions, we aim to foster a more reflexive, inclusive, and pluralistic IS research landscape that better addresses the complexities of sustainability. This study contributes to broadening IS debates on digital sustainability beyond technological solutionism.

Keywords: Ideological hegemony; Digital sustainability; Critical discourse analysis; Techno-optimism; Environmental impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-05-21
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Published in AIM 2025 : 30ème conférence annuelle de l'Association Information et Management. « Évolutions et perspectives des systèmes d'information dans les organisations et sociétés en transition », Association Information et Management (AIM), May 2025, Lyon, France

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05242127

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