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Critical discourse analysis of perspectives on knowledge and the knowledge society within the Sustainable Development Goals

Author

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  • Sarah Cummings
  • Barbara Regeer
  • Leah de Haan
  • Marjolein Zweekhorst
  • Joske Bunders

Abstract

Critical discourse analysis (CDA) is employed to analyze discourses of knowledge and the knowledge society in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Discourse analysis is a collective name for a number of scientific methodologies for analyzing semiosis, namely how meaning is created and communicated though written, vocal or sign language. Employing a genealogical approach which locates discourses in the field of prior discourses, two prior discourses of the knowledge society are identified in the key document of the SDGs. The concepts knowledge and knowledge society are found to have a marginal position within the main policy document “Transforming our world,” adopted by the United Nations in September 2015. The techno‐scientific‐economic discourse is found to be dominant at the level of implementation and of goals, while there is some evidence of the pluralist‐participatory discourse at the level of vision and strategy. Analysis of some of the policy advice provided by international organizations and civil society indicates that more pluralist‐participatory discourses on knowledge were represented when the SDGs were being formulated. Developed countries and the corporate sector were very influential in determining the final text and were probably instrumental in excluding more transformational discourses and maintaining the status quo.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Cummings & Barbara Regeer & Leah de Haan & Marjolein Zweekhorst & Joske Bunders, 2018. "Critical discourse analysis of perspectives on knowledge and the knowledge society within the Sustainable Development Goals," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(6), pages 727-742, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:36:y:2018:i:6:p:727-742
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12296
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robin Mansell, 2015. "Futures of knowledge societies: destabilization in whose interest?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 56559, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sarah Cummings & Charles Dhewa & Gladys Kemboi & Stacey Young, 2023. "Doing epistemic justice in sustainable development: Applying the philosophical concept of epistemic injustice to the real world," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1965-1977, June.
    3. Yared Nigussie Demssie & Harm J. A. Biemans & Renate Wesselink & Martin Mulder, 2020. "Combining Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Education to Foster Sustainability Competencies: Towards a Set of Learning Design Principles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Marton Demeter, 2022. "Development Studies in the World System of Global Knowledge Production: A Critical Empirical Analysis," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 22(3), pages 239-256, July.
    5. Huabin Wang, 2023. "Instrumentalisation of critical discourse studies: a linguistic analysis of public relations concepts in the CDS journal article abstracts (2000–2020)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
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    11. Kristina Jönsson & Magdalena Bexell, 2021. "Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals: The case of Tanzania," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(2), pages 181-196, March.

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