Fantasy and Desire in the construction of Sustainable Urban Development : A Discourse Theoretical Analysis of Sustainable Urban Development in Southern Norway

Abstract

This thesis details a discourse analysis of the discourse on sustainable urban development, amongst participants of a co-creative arena called Southern City Network. For over four years, participants of this arena have attempted to arrive at a joint commitment on how sustainable urban development should be understood and acted on within the arena. I propose that this inertia can be explored by investigating how sustainable urban development is enacted in discourse, while paying close attention to the affective dimension of language-use. The overall research theme of the thesis targets meaning and conflict in discursive practices, while highlighting the affective dimension of language-use. The casestudy and overall research themes are positioned within the post-foundational Discourse Theory of Ernesto Laclau and supplemented with readings of a Lacanian-orientation. The aim of the research strategy is to identify points of sedimentation and contestation to the discursive practice on sustainable urban development, amongst the participants of the arena, and to explore how contestations are discursively navigated during arena activities. The goal is to reflect on the role of fantasy and desire in this navigation. The research questions ask: - How is sustainable urban development discursively constructed amongst planning agents in Southern City Network? - What are the key areas of contestation to this construction? - What is the role of fantasy and desire in this construction?