Learning diary of 2019 Helsinki summer school

date: 8 August 2019

From the lecture in the morning, I have better understanding to “the empty signifier” and “the chain of equivalence” by the social network point of view. Discourse theory argues that relations are determined by nodal points. However, this relation features exclusiveness or incompatibility. In other words, the relation will further distinguish who is in-group and out-group. If I look at network theory, in some degrees there are some relations among different network nodes. The network theory, of course, assumes unequal relationship between any two nodes. In the discourse theory, the point is how these nodal points are connected through speech (the chain of equivalence). It therefore allows various weights of nodes. And the empty signifier can be the most important node in the network. However, I still confuse about the role of moment. Does the moment matter in the discursive point of view?

The lecture in the afternoon further discussed about the polarisation. According to the assigned article, McBoy, Rahman and Somer (2018) propose that the polarisation is no longer simply identified by Right-Left scale, rather different cleavages (e.g., rural and urban difference). Based on their definition to polarisation, polarisation is seen as a mobilising tool to politically mobilise groups in the society. They make the populism as an example. However, since both theories emphsise on narrating the antagonistic relationship (us vs. them), what is the difference between both theories?

Related posts:

Losing weight after starting birth control can be a frustrating experience, but it is possible. Many women gain weight as a side effect of taking hormonal birth control, and it can be tough to shed…

In walking around town and seeing people online and their social media posts, this summer seems to be the summer of discontent. The weather from my vantage point has been decent. I haven’t heard a…

Say no first and then say your yes. “REJECT THEN FIND YOUR WAY” is published by Stephen C. Rose in Everything Comes.