Plural and hybrid environmental values: a discourse analysis of the wind energy conflict in Australia and the United Kingdom

Abstract

Wind energy has divided environmentalists. To understand why, disparate groups from Victoria, Australia and the United Kingdom are characterised as discourse coalitions, and their views and arguments are digested into compelling storylines. Drawing on the literature that explains environmental conflicts in terms of contrasting values, a discourse analysis approach is used to identify and define the hybrid and plural values held by the groups within wind energy discourse coalitions. Importantly for future policy development, influences and views that motivate groups to participate in policy and project assessment are identified, the current battles over facts between coalitions are analysed, and the present ignorance of or preference for certain views and types of values are shown as hindering the policy making process.

Keywords:

• environmental values
• environmental discourses
• wind energy
• Victoria, Australia
• United Kingdom

Acknowledgments

This article is based on research conducted as part of the degree of Master of Philosophy in Environment, Society and Development, undertaken at the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, and supervised by Professor Susan Owens. The author's study and research was funded by a Commonwealth Scholarship.