Political framings of biological diversity: The case of the Norwegian Nature Index

Abstract

In September 2010, a Nature Index giving information on status and trends in biodiversity in nine larger ecosystems in Norway was presented. In the article, the authors ask how Norwegian youth politicians framed, i.e. articulated, the topic of biodiversity after being introduced to this new information. To answer this question, focus group interviews were conducted with leading youth politicians in the six largest political parties in Norway. A first finding was that knowledge of and interest in biodiversity at the outset was relatively low. In general, the interviews were structured along three dimensions. First, there was a general discussion about nature and biodiversity. Second, biodiversity was discussed in a political context in terms of state versus market, and local versus national and international politics. Finally, the role of science was discussed. In general terms, the study found that biodiversity as an issue is only to a limited extent able to influence established political opinions (no resonance), but is itself adapted to fit established ideologies (master frames).

Keywords:

• biodiversity
• focus groups
• framing
• politics
• youth

Notes

1. For information in English on the Norwegian Nature Index, see Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management (2011).