Green Consumption’ beyond mainstream economy

A discourse analysis

Abstract

In contemporary society, green consumption is a popular concept. The life styles of people and consumption behaviors are moderated in accordance to the ‘green ideology’. The process of green consumption can be observed through social behaviors such as preference of bio foods, recycling, reusing, limiting the over consumption and using environmentally friendly transport systems. However, mainstream economic analyses on green consumption argued that consumer behaviors are due to the rational choice of individuality based on utility and self-preferences. The hypothesis of this paper on consumer behavior in green consumption is configured by discourses according to the discourse analysis.

References  

Abaidoo, Rexford (2010) If a Rational Consumer Could Choose His Own Utility Function, Would He Choose to “Go Green”?’ Journal of Applied Business and Economics, Vol. 10 No. 6, pp. 44-57

Alfredsson, E.C. (2004) ‘‘Green’’ consumption—no solution for climate change, Energy Vol. 29.pp. 513–524

Andersen, Niels Akerstørm (2003) Discursive analytical strategies, understanding Foucault, Koselleck, Laclau and Luhmann, Bristol: the Polity Press

Beverungen, Armin (2006) Laclau, Discourse, Ideology, Centre for Philosophy and Political Economy University of Leicester pp. 1-16, available on www.cmsorg.wikispaces.com/file/view/BeverungenLaclauIdeology.doc (Accessed 16 September2011)

Bøgelund, Pia. (2007) ‘Making green discourse matter in policy-making: Learning from discursive power struggles within the policy area of car taxation’, Ecological Economics Vol.63, pp. 78-92

Connolly , John and Prothero, Andrea. (2008) ‘Green Consumption: Life-politics, risk and contradictions’, Journal of Consumer Culture, Vol.8, No.1,pp117-145

Charter, Martin., Peattie, Ken., Ottman, Jacqueline and Polonsky, Michael J. (2002) Marketing and sustainability: UK: Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS)

Crystal, David.(1980) A dictionary of linguistics & phonetics, Malden and Oxford: Blackwell Publishers

Dryzek John S. (2000) Deliberative democracy and beyond: liberals, critics, contestations, New York: Oxford University Press

Dryzek, John S. (1997) The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses, New York: Oxford University Press.

Encyclopedia of Business 2nd Edition (2011) Available on, http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Gov-Inc/Green-Marketing.html (Accessed 19 September 2011)
Foellmi, Reto. (2005) Consumption Structure and Macroeconomics: Structural Change and the Relationship between Inequality and Growth, Berlin: Springer Verlag

Fairclough, N. and Wodak, R. (1997) ‘Critical discourse analysis’, In: T. van Dijk (ed.), Discourse Studies: A Multidisciplinary Introduction. Vol. 2, London: Sage, pp. 258–84

Friedman, Milton. (1957) A Theory of the Consumption Function, New Jersey: Princeton University Press

Foucault, Michel. (2001) ‘Contributions in Philosophy’, Available on line http://www.scholarcache.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/04/Foucault-WHAT-IS-AN-AUTHOR.pdf (Accessed 8 September 2011)

Foucault, Michel. (1990) The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1: An Introduction, Vintage Book Edition (Random House Publishing 1976)

Gilg, Andrew, Barr, Stewart and Ford, Nicholas. (2005) ‘Green consumption or sustainable lifestyle? : Identifying the sustainable consumer”, Future, Vol. 37, pp.481-504

Green, Steven L. (2002) Rational Choice Theory: An Overview Baylor University Faculty Development Seminar on Rational Choice Theory Available on www.business.baylor.edu/steve_green/green1.doc (Accessed 16 September 2011)

Hajer, M. A. (1995) The Politics of Environmental Discourse: Ecological Modernization and the Policy Process, New York: Oxford University Press

Hastings, Annette. (2000) ‘Discourse Analysis: What Does it Offer Housing Studies?’ ,Housing, Theory and Society, Vol.17 No.3, pp.131-139

Howarth, David and Stavrakaki, Yannis., (2000) Discourse Theory And Political Analysis’, In: David R. Howarth; Aletta J. Norval and Yannis Stavrakakis (ed.): Discourse theory and political analysis: identities, hegemonies, and social change, Manchester; Manchester University Press, pp.1-37

Irvine, Sandy. (1989) ‘Consuming Fashion? The Limits of Green Consumerism’, Ecologis, Vol.19. No.3 pp.88-93

Jacobitti, Edmund E.(1980) ‘Hegemony before Gramsci: The Case of Benedetto Croce’, The Journal of Modern History, Vol. 52, No. 1,pp. 66-84

Johnstone, Barbara. (2002) Discourse analysis, Malden and Oxford: Blackwell Publishers

Jørgensen Marianne and Louise Phillips. (2002) Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method,London: Sage Publication

Laclau, Ernest. (1996) Emancipation(s), London and New York: Verso Publication

Laclau, Ernest. (1992), Beyond Emancipation, Development and Change, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp.121-137

Laclau, Ernest and Mouffe, Chantal. (1987) ‘Post-Marxism without Apologies’, New Left Review, pp.79-106

Laclau, Ernest and Mouffe, Chantal. (1985) Hegemony and Social Strategy: Towards a radical democratic politics, London and New York: Verso Publication

Lichbach, Mark Irving. (2003) Is rational choice theory all of social science, Michigan: The University of Michigan Press

Macnaghten, Philip. (1993) ‘Discourse of nature argumentation and power ‘, In:Erica Burman and Ian Parker, Discourse analytic research: repertoires and readings of texts in action, Routledge, pp. 52-75

Marianne and Phillips, Louise. (2002) Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method, London: Sage Publication

Mann, Stefan. (2003) ‘Why organic food in Germany is a merit good’, Food Policy, Vol.28, pp.459–469

Mansvelt, Juliana and Robbins, Paul.(2011) Green Consumerism: An A-to Z Guide, Los Angeles and London: Sage Publication

Peattie, Ken and Charter, Martin. (1992) ‘Green marketing’ In: Michel J. Baker (ed.), The Marketing Book (Publishing 2003), Jordan Hill, Oxford: Butterworth- Heinemann, pp. 726-755

Pedersen, Lene Holm, (2000) ‘The Dynamics of green consumption: a matter of visibility?’, Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, pp.193-210

Smith, Katherine T. (2010) ‘An examination of marketing techniques that influence Millennial’s perception of whether a product is environmentally friendly’, Journal of Strategic Marketing, vol. 18, No. 6, pp.437-450

Stavrakakis, Yannis. (1997) ‘Green Ideology: a discursive reading, Journal of Political Ideologies, Vol.2. No. 3, pp.259-279

Sutherland, Claire. (2005) ‘Nation-building through discourse Theory’, Nations and Nationalism Vol.11, No.2, pp. 185–202

The GREENPEACE. (2007) ‘Amchitka: the founding voyage’, Available on http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/history/amchitka-hunter/ (Accessed 19 September 2011)

Turner, Rita. (2010) ‘Discourses of Consumption in US-American Culture’, sustainability, Vol. 2, pp.2279-2301

Weiss, Gilbert and Ruth Wodak.(2003) ‘ Introduction: Theory, Interdisciplinarity and Critical Discourse Analysis’ In: Gilbert Weiss and Ruth Wodak (ed.) Critical Discourse Analysis: Theory and Interdisciplinarity, New York:,Palgrave and Macmillan,pp1-32

Wullweber, Joscha and Scherrer, Christoph.(2010,)Post-modern and Post-structural International Political Economy, In: Denemark, Robert A. (Hrsg): The International Studies Encyclopedia, Oxford: Blackwell, Blackwell Reference Online