The interplay between global climate responsibility and nationalism in policy making : how is the Finnish role in global climate governance constructed in parliamentary discussions?
Tapio, Maija-Leena (2022)
Tapio, Maija-Leena
2022
Master's Programme in Global Society
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-05-23
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202205094520
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202205094520
Tiivistelmä
Climate change is a socio-natural phenomenon that can be described as a shared global challenge. It is simultaneously solved and discussed in the local and global spheres, and this has led to a situation where climate change provides a new window to discuss nationalism and national identity. It is a risk that requires global co-operation so that necessary climate change adjustments are made. This built-in global responsibility and its interplay with nationalism is also the interest in this thesis. Specifically, the topic is approached with a focus on how the Finnish parliamentary discussions construct the idea of climate responsibility together with a nation-state perspective. Furthermore, I am interested in the different identifications that are operationalized in the discussion while domesticating climate change action on national political agenda.
With a methodological framework of discourse analysis, epistemic governance and membership categorization analysis I analyze the discussions in the Finnish parliament related to the 2015 climate law. The analysis reveals how different global actors are utilized within the discussion in a variety of ways, depending on the politician. The referencing to other global actors were vital in the epistemic work of defining national identity in relation to climate change. Finland’s moral responsibility and expected actions in relation to climate change are influenced by different reference groups and other actors associated to Finland in the discussion.
Furthermore, MPs speeches reinforce banal nationalism, but at the same time MPs have to assure that Finland will fulfill its global responsibility by reducing emissions. Whether the argument is for or against the proposed climate law, MPs would mainly construct their argument so that it takes into consideration the nation-state. For example, aligning national interests with global interests, or making a demand for international co-operation, wherein national interest can be defended against the external. At the same time however, arguments for national interests are forced to be molded so that they are argued in an international framework and assure that Finland will carry its part.
The discussions also showcase how the premises of the arguments utilized in the epistemic work are not purely local, instead they are part of the imageries of the social world. As MPs make arguments pursuing national interests, they at the same time premise their arguments on global trends, further showcasing how the discussion of climate change is part of global synchronization.
With a methodological framework of discourse analysis, epistemic governance and membership categorization analysis I analyze the discussions in the Finnish parliament related to the 2015 climate law. The analysis reveals how different global actors are utilized within the discussion in a variety of ways, depending on the politician. The referencing to other global actors were vital in the epistemic work of defining national identity in relation to climate change. Finland’s moral responsibility and expected actions in relation to climate change are influenced by different reference groups and other actors associated to Finland in the discussion.
Furthermore, MPs speeches reinforce banal nationalism, but at the same time MPs have to assure that Finland will fulfill its global responsibility by reducing emissions. Whether the argument is for or against the proposed climate law, MPs would mainly construct their argument so that it takes into consideration the nation-state. For example, aligning national interests with global interests, or making a demand for international co-operation, wherein national interest can be defended against the external. At the same time however, arguments for national interests are forced to be molded so that they are argued in an international framework and assure that Finland will carry its part.
The discussions also showcase how the premises of the arguments utilized in the epistemic work are not purely local, instead they are part of the imageries of the social world. As MPs make arguments pursuing national interests, they at the same time premise their arguments on global trends, further showcasing how the discussion of climate change is part of global synchronization.