 Comparisons as a discursive tool: shaping megaproject narratives in the United KingdomNatalya Sergeeva and Johan Ninan Policy and Society, 2023, vol. 42, issue 2, 197-211 Abstract: The mobilization of narratives is essential in integrating people and constructing identities that help in navigating complexity, uncertainty, and conflictuality. This paper explores how comparisons are used as a discursive tool to shape narratives and bring about changes in policy and society, using the High Speed Two megaproject in the UK as a case study. We examine the comparisons that promoters and protesters employ in an organizational setting. In particular, we explore how the narratives that result from these comparisons—on questions including the need for the megaproject, the benefits of the megaproject, alternatives to the megaproject, and issues of noise, sustainability, compensation, and branding—help their efforts to organize. The research highlights how comparisons serve as an important cue in discourse and how different forms of comparison can help to create narratives and shape policy outcomes. Keywords: narratives; comparisons; organizing; megaprojects; policy outcomes (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:polsoc:v:42:y:2023:i:2:p:197-211. Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from Access Statistics for this article Policy and Society is currently edited by Daniel Béland, Giliberto Capano, Michael Howlett and M. Ramesh More articles in Policy and Society from Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK. |
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