A social representations approach to the communication between different spheres: an analysis of the impacts of two discursive formats

This paper discusses the potential of the notions of reification and consensualization as developed by the theory of social representations as analytical tools for addressing the communication between the lay and scientific spheres. Social Representations Theory started by offering an over-sharp distinction between the reified and the consensual universes of which science and common sense, respectively, were presented as paradigmatic. This paper, however, suggests that the notions of consensual and reified can be considered as describing two distinct communicative formats: reification implying the use of arguments which establish prescriptions for representations and action, and consensualization relying on arguments which recognize the heterogeneity of representation and action. We illustrate this proposal through the analysis of a case in which the expert and the lay spheres of a Lisbon neighborhood opposed each other regarding the new laws of public participation in community matters. This analysis showed how reification and consensualization can be used as discursive formats by both spheres. The implications of the use of reification and consensualization and how they may depend on several power resources and have different impacts on social change are discussed

Developing a critical agenda to understand pro-environmental actions: contributions from social representations and social practices theories

Debates over the value and compatibility of different approaches to understanding and changing environmental-relevant actions proliferate across the social sciences. This article reviews and discusses some of the (socio-)psychological and sociological approaches in those debates. We will start by critically reviewing the (socio-)psychological perspectives, highlighting two main shortcomings. First, they are often partial in their focus—concentrating on the consumption side of climate-relevant actions and, relatedly in changing these actions at the individual level. They tend to assume that individual change equates to social change and, with that, fail to contextualize ‘anti’-environmental actions in current neoliberal, capitalist societies. Second, they usually present the mainstream (socio-)psychological approaches, which are ontologically individualistic and cognitive, as the only existent ones, therefore neglecting other perspectives within Social Psychology which might actually be (more) compatible with sociological perspectives. We then suggest that Social Representations Theory (SRT), as an ontologically social-psychological approach and a theory of social change, might be reconciled with sociological approaches, such as Social Practices Theory (SPT), in contrast to the more individualistic (socio-)psychological perspectives. After reviewing the main tenets of SRT, its discrepancies and potential synergies with SPT, we discuss how both can be articulated to understand different stages of the social change process toward more environmentally sustainable societies. While SPT might be more suitable to understand stability or how some actions become habitual, SRT might be better equipped to understand how those change, or how individuals and groups negotiate new actions with old ones

CIDADE STRAIGHT VERSUS CIDADE DISSIDENTE: A STREET ART COMO DEMARCAÇÃO DO LUGAR EM LISBOA

O artigo discute aspectos da formação do espaço urbano em Lisboa na sua relação com a mobilidade e de que maneira a street art tem se configurado enquanto expressão ativista de outros sujeitos (i)móveis da cidade. A análise leva em conta a presença do automóvel como estruturante da cidade sexualizada e as expressões urbanas produzidas por mulheres e coletivos artísticos como forma de resistência e demarcação do lugar e da mobilidade. Os estudos queer, a sociologia, a antropologia urbana e a filosofia compõem o arsenal teórico que dão suporte a essa investigação multidisciplinar

Participação pública entre normas e factos: uma análise psico-social

Este trabalho pretende contribuir para a compreensão da discrepância diagnosticada entre as ideias e as práticas em relação à participação pública, tanto pelos sistemas técnico-políticos como pelo público, em Portugal. Propomos que para isso é necessário considerar que a participação pública é actualmente um objecto de mudança normativa, em que legislação pretende alterar as ideias e práticas dos sistemas técnico-políticos e leigos, e as relações entre eles, em relação à participação. Contudo, as leis da participação não têm um carácter de controlo directo das práticas dos indivíduos, constituindo-se antes como ideias com desejabilidade social. Assim, abrem espaço a processos de resistência à mudança nos subsistemas sociais afectados. Analisamos como as leis da participação na sua relação com a preservação do ambiente construído estão a ser apropriadas pelos sistemas técnico e leigo num contexto específico – o Bairro Alto. Através de estudos realizados com profissionais de reabilitação urbana (Estudo1) e moradores deste bairro, (Estudos2-5) e outros cidadãos (Estudo3), mostramos como apesar da sua concordância com a importância da participação, surgem processos de resistência associados a identidades e representações cultural e contextualmente relevantes, que permitem justificar a descoordenação entre as ideias e as práticas em relação à participação. No entanto, representações e identidades contextualmente relevantes poderão também promover atitudes e comportamentos de participação dos moradores do Bairro Alto em relação à preservação do ambiente construído desta comunidade, desde que se tenha em conta a heterogeneidade da comunidade, isto é, dos grupos que a compõem e das relações que estabelecem com essa.This work intends to contribute for better understanding the dichotomy between the ideas and the practices about public participation, by the techno-political systems and the public in Portugal. For that, we propose that we need to consider that public participation is nowadays an object of a normative change process. That is, legislation and public policies have been developed to change the ideas and the practices of the techno-political and lay systems, as well as the relations between them, regarding participation. However, the laws regulating participation do not sanction the practices of individuals, but include instead socially desirable ideas. Thus, they open space for the affected social sub-systems to resist change. We analyse how the laws of participation in their relation with the preservation of the built environment are being appropriated by the expert and lay systems in a specific context – Bairro Alto. Through empirical studies conducted with professionals of urban rehabilitation (Study1) and inhabitants of this community (Studies2-5) and other citizens (Study3) we show how despite their agreement with the importance of participation, resistance processes emerge associated with cultural and contextual relevant identities and representations, which allow justifying the uncoordination between ideas and practices regarding participation. Nevertheless, contextually relevant identities and representations can also contribute for promoting attitudes and participation behaviors of the Bairro Alto inhabitants’ regarding the preservation of the built environment of this community, if we consider the community’s heterogeneity, namely, the diverse groups that constitute it and the different relations they establish with it

Populism and energy: Britishness, Europeanness, and responses to energy infrastructures

Susana Batel and Patrick Devine-Wright explore public beliefs about energy issues among different-level identities in the UK, and explain how feelings of belonging to different imaginary communities appear to impact socio-political events such as Brexit

A conceptual framework for understanding the social acceptance of energy infrastructure: insights from energy storage

Although social acceptance research has blossomed over the last decade, interdisciplinary studies combining market, socio-political and community aspects are scarce. We propose a novel integration of social science theory in which the belief systems or social representations held by key actors play a crucial role in fostering acceptance of novel technologies, and where a polycentric perspective places particular emphasis on ways that middle actors mediate processes of change between scales. We advance a methodological approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research methods and exemplify the framework by focusing on acceptance of renewable energy storage solutions to accommodate high levels of renewable energy deployment. A research agenda for the social acceptance of energy storage is proposed that sets out key research questions relating international, national and local levels. The outcome of such studies would not only lead to enhanced understanding of processes of social acceptance, but deliver important insights for policy and practice

Local perceptions of opportunities for engagement and procedural justice in electricity transmission grid projects in Norway and the UK

ArticleCopyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Transmission lines are critical infrastructures, but frequently contested especially at the local level, by local communities. The role of public engagement in processes pertaining to specific transmission line projects is an under-researched, yet important topic that this paper seeks to discuss by investigating how inhabitants perceive these processes and to what extent they find the processes just and fair. This paper addresses the participatory aspects of the planning process, as perceived by the local inhabitants in four Norway and UK cases, by using a qualitative comparative case study design. We further analyse this issue through frameworks of public engagement and procedural justice. In both countries public engagement is largely characterized by perceptions of insufficient information, and insufficient influence on the process. In sum, the findings indicate that the informants generally perceive the opportunities for involvement as insufficient and unjust. The findings are quite similar across all cases and both countries. Local inhabitants represent diverse groups who often have different levels of knowledge, time and engagement to bring to the planning process. Their requests for improved processes thus underline the serious public engagement challenges that applicants and decision-makers face.Research Council of Norwa

Contributions, Tensions and Future Avenues of a Critical Approach to the Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Infrastructures

In this part, we reflect upon the contributions of the presented chapters to a critical approach to research on the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies. First, we highlight the key transversal and common foci of the chapters and what they suggest in relation to core areas to be further developed within a critical approach. We then also identify and discuss what seem to be some of the ontological, epistemological and methodological tensions across the chapters and, namely, regarding their differential uptakes of two key dimensions of a critical approach: relationality and materiality. Finally, and based on those initial considerations, we suggest some avenues for future research on the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies based on a critical perspective