gambling discourse in south australia: power, knowledge and ethics dr robert muller academic...
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Gambling Discourse in South Australia: Gambling Discourse in South Australia:
Power, Knowledge and EthicsPower, Knowledge and Ethics
Dr Robert MullerDr Robert Muller
Academic DevelopmentAcademic Development
University of South AustraliaUniversity of South Australia
12 August 200612 August 2006
Purpose of ThesisPurpose of Thesis
To understand the debates and power To understand the debates and power struggles over gambling throughout struggles over gambling throughout South Australian history from 1836South Australian history from 1836
To demonstrate how gambling has been To demonstrate how gambling has been transformed in line with wider social transformed in line with wider social changes throughout South Australian changes throughout South Australian historyhistory
To fill a gap in the sociological literatureTo fill a gap in the sociological literature
Methodology/TheoryMethodology/Theory
Playful interplay of Playful interplay of methodology/theorymethodology/theory
Varying opinionsVarying opinions
1.1. Foucault uses no theoryFoucault uses no theory
2.2. Foucault is all methodologyFoucault is all methodology
3.3. Foucault is a mix of theory and Foucault is a mix of theory and methodology (despite what Foucault methodology (despite what Foucault says)says)
Methodology/TheoryMethodology/Theory
Foucauldian Discourse AnalysisFoucauldian Discourse Analysis Archaeology/GenealogyArchaeology/Genealogy
Composite Theoretical Framework Composite Theoretical Framework GovernmentalityGovernmentality Neo-LiberalismNeo-Liberalism
Neo-Liberal DiscourseNeo-Liberal Discourse
Composite Theoretical FrameworkComposite Theoretical Framework
Noticeable gap in sociological theorising Noticeable gap in sociological theorising on gamblingon gambling
Developed a composite theoretical Developed a composite theoretical framework based on theories of framework based on theories of contemporary modernity, in other contemporary modernity, in other words, theories of how the words, theories of how the contemporary social world workscontemporary social world works
Composite Theoretical FrameworkComposite Theoretical Framework
Foucault’s single article on ‘Governmentality’ Foucault’s single article on ‘Governmentality’ (in Burchell, et al., 1991)(in Burchell, et al., 1991)
The Governmentality literatureThe Governmentality literature MacIntyre (1981) – ‘critical history’ of MacIntyre (1981) – ‘critical history’ of
morality within modernitymorality within modernity Campbell (1987) – ‘critical history’ of Campbell (1987) – ‘critical history’ of
consumerism and associated hedonismconsumerism and associated hedonism Bell (2001) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism Bell (2001) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism
and culture throughout modernityand culture throughout modernity Wagner (1994) – a ‘critical history’ of Wagner (1994) – a ‘critical history’ of
modernitymodernity
Data SourcesData Sources Data for thesis: how to make sense of a Data for thesis: how to make sense of a
mountain of differing forms of datamountain of differing forms of data
156 written submissions and 85 oral 156 written submissions and 85 oral submissions to National Inquiry into submissions to National Inquiry into Gambling and more than 1000 pages of the Gambling and more than 1000 pages of the deliberations and findings of the Inquirydeliberations and findings of the Inquiry
Range of historical documents Range of historical documents (newspapers, Royal Commissions, (newspapers, Royal Commissions, pamphlets, government documents)pamphlets, government documents)
Contemporary documents (Adelaide Casino Contemporary documents (Adelaide Casino staff training manual, hotel advertising) staff training manual, hotel advertising)
Solution?Solution?
Use a Foucauldian Discourse AnalysisUse a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis But why?But why?
Gambling is a conflict-ridden area of social Gambling is a conflict-ridden area of social lifelife
Myriad of opposing definitions of gamblingMyriad of opposing definitions of gambling Foucault emphasises power, conflict, and Foucault emphasises power, conflict, and
truth as contingenttruth as contingent Power differentials characterised by Power differentials characterised by
strategies, counter-strategies and resistancestrategies, counter-strategies and resistance Conflict between different actors, leading to Conflict between different actors, leading to
a polarisation of social positionsa polarisation of social positions Truth as contingent (different ‘truths’ or Truth as contingent (different ‘truths’ or
constructions of gambling)constructions of gambling)
A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis can A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis can uncover all of these aspects of social lifeuncover all of these aspects of social life
Social Analysis, Not Linguistic Social Analysis, Not Linguistic AnalysisAnalysis
Foucauldian Discourse Analysis is not a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis is not a linguistic analysis linguistic analysis
Instead, Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Instead, Foucauldian Discourse Analysis emphasises ‘the social’ through examining emphasises ‘the social’ through examining the the interaction between ‘what is said’ and interaction between ‘what is said’ and ‘what is produced as a result of what is ‘what is produced as a result of what is said’ and the social ramifications of this said’ and the social ramifications of this interactioninteraction
Power/Knowledge (inseparable relationship)Power/Knowledge (inseparable relationship)
ExampleExample Some gambling counsellors construct Some gambling counsellors construct
gamblers with gambling problems as gamblers with gambling problems as ‘pathological’, producing certain documents ‘pathological’, producing certain documents and treatment methods (written down), and treatment methods (written down), rendering the gambler as having a pathology rendering the gambler as having a pathology (sickness) and as subject to particular (sickness) and as subject to particular treatments treatments
Other counsellors construct gamblers as Other counsellors construct gamblers as ‘compulsive’, producing different documents, ‘compulsive’, producing different documents, rendering the gambler as having an ‘impulse’ rendering the gambler as having an ‘impulse’ problem and subject to different treatments problem and subject to different treatments
DiscourseDiscourse
My discourse analysis is a search for My discourse analysis is a search for complexity, seeking to map out the inherent complexity, seeking to map out the inherent ‘messiness’ of contemporary moral debate ‘messiness’ of contemporary moral debate around gamblingaround gambling
Contemporary social relations around Contemporary social relations around gambling considered to be representations. gambling considered to be representations. Concept of discourse allowed me to Concept of discourse allowed me to understand these representations & to understand these representations & to explain them sociologicallyexplain them sociologically
Archaeology/GenealogyArchaeology/Genealogy
Overall, these methodologies seek to:Overall, these methodologies seek to: Expose conceptual breaks in Expose conceptual breaks in
particular discourses over time, particular discourses over time, representing turning points in historyrepresenting turning points in history
Reject the notion of ‘linear’ historyReject the notion of ‘linear’ history Use local, mundane forms of Use local, mundane forms of
knowledge utilised in the knowledge utilised in the ‘everydayness’ of life, within social ‘everydayness’ of life, within social institutionsinstitutions
But what is the context within But what is the context within which these discourses are which these discourses are
situated?situated?
GovernmentalityGovernmentality
A theory of how ‘modern’ society is A theory of how ‘modern’ society is governedgoverned
Movement from the ‘pre-modern’ in Movement from the ‘pre-modern’ in which power vested in ‘the which power vested in ‘the sovereign’ to the ‘modern’ in which sovereign’ to the ‘modern’ in which power is vested in ‘the state’, often power is vested in ‘the state’, often the ‘democratic state’ the ‘democratic state’
High point considered to be the High point considered to be the welfare statewelfare state
Neo-LiberalismNeo-Liberalism
Debate from a wide range of Debate from a wide range of sociological theorists (including sociological theorists (including Governmentality theorists) that we Governmentality theorists) that we have entered a new phasehave entered a new phase
Neo-Liberal discourse has permeated Neo-Liberal discourse has permeated it’s way through most other it’s way through most other discourses in ‘late modernity’ discourses in ‘late modernity’
My argument?My argument?
A bit differentA bit different
Neo-Liberal DiscourseNeo-Liberal Discourse Allowed me to frame my argument Allowed me to frame my argument
as all discourses being influenced in as all discourses being influenced in some way by Neo-Liberal Discourse some way by Neo-Liberal Discourse
Market relationsMarket relations ChoiceChoice Consumers enacting their ‘consumer Consumers enacting their ‘consumer
freedom’ through choicefreedom’ through choice (Rose, (Rose, 2001)2001)
‘‘Entrepreneurs of the self’Entrepreneurs of the self’ (Gordon, (Gordon, in Burchell, 1991)in Burchell, 1991)
Foucauldian Discourse AnalysisFoucauldian Discourse Analysis
Full circle back to FDAFull circle back to FDA
Neo-Liberal Discourse allowed me to Neo-Liberal Discourse allowed me to place my discourse analysis of the place my discourse analysis of the local gambling industry within a local gambling industry within a contemporary framework contemporary framework
ConclusionsConclusions
ConflictConflict Two sides of the debateTwo sides of the debate Underlying tensions within Modernity, Underlying tensions within Modernity,
based on these same Enlightenment based on these same Enlightenment idealsideals
Underlying norms and values behind Underlying norms and values behind disagreements over gamblingdisagreements over gambling
These are not separate from society, These are not separate from society, but instead intricately linked to macro but instead intricately linked to macro social processessocial processes
ConclusionsConclusions
Debates on gambling are linked to Debates on gambling are linked to the oscillation of the regulatory the oscillation of the regulatory environment throughout historyenvironment throughout history
Discourses of Freedom v Discourses Discourses of Freedom v Discourses of Determinismof Determinism
‘‘Gambling as gaming’ and ‘gambling Gambling as gaming’ and ‘gambling as entertainment’as entertainment’
Tactics used by industry do not allow Tactics used by industry do not allow freedom freedom
ConclusionsConclusions
Social constructions of gambling Social constructions of gambling subjectsubject
‘‘Pokies’ industry established in a Pokies’ industry established in a neo-liberal societyneo-liberal society
PolarisationPolarisation