ABSTRACT

Researchers often focus on the most intense conflicts, skewing our perception of the diversity and nature of policy conflicts. The paper examines the discourse engaged in the siting of three pipeline projects under construction, each with varying levels of conflict, and one rejected project of high conflict. We analyze over 700 newspaper articles that span the life of each proposed pipeline and supplement the news media data with interviews. Using these data, we compare differences in actor types, frames, and behaviors in natural gas pipeline siting processes characterized by high, medium, and low conflict. Comparing the characteristics of energy siting conflicts at varying intensities helps support corresponding portrayals of how people engage in the policy process. This paper offers theoretical and empirical guidance on understanding policy conflict intensity variation.

摘要

研究人员通常将注意力集中在最激烈的冲突上，这使我们对政策冲突的多样性和性质产生了偏见。本文研究了涉及三个正在建设的，冲突程度各异的管道项目和一个被拒绝的高度冲突项目的选址的话语。我们分析了超过700条报纸的文章，这些文章涵盖了每个拟议管道的生命周期，并通过采访补充了新闻媒体数据。使用这些数据，我们比较了以高，中和低冲突为特征的天然气管道选址过程中参与者类型，框架和行为的差异。比较不同强度的能源选址冲突的特征，有助于支持人们对政策制定过程的看法。