Charting a Discursive Field: Environmentalists for U.S. Population Stabilization

Authors

Leslie King, Smith CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2007

Publication Title

Sociological Inquiry

Abstract

This article seeks to extend our understanding of the forces that shape social movement messages. Using a framework that focuses on a movement’s discursive field, I analyze the U.S. movement for population stabilization, which is made up of groups that call for stricter limits on immigration to the United States as a means to forestall environmental decline. Drawing upon data from a range of sources, including the Web sites of 10 environment-oriented immigration-reduction organizations, I make the case that this movement’s particular field is composed of the discursive repertoires (or messages) of a set of environmental and nonenvironmental social actors and three central discourses: science, political economy, and nationalism. I argue that the movement’s relative lack of success is partially attributable to its position in the discursive field in which it must operate.

Volume

77

Issue

3

First Page

301

Last Page

325

DOI

doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.2007.00195.x

Comments

Archived as published.

Recommended Citation

King, Leslie, "Charting a Discursive Field: Environmentalists for U.S. Population Stabilization" (2007). Sociology: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/soc_facpubs/30