Sticky words? Towards a theory of rhetorical path dependency

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6234565
AutoresDennis C Grube (0000-0002-4000-2460, University of Tasmania, autor de correspondencia)
Año2016
Volumen51
Número3
Páginas530-545
Fecha de publicación2016-07-02
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAustralian Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1036-1146 • E-ISSN: 1363-030X
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10361146.2016.1171824
OpenAlexW2340662095
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas13
Referencias citadas39

Speech matters. Political actors are defined by what they say as much as by what they do but, with each rhetorical choice, they also narrow the range of rhetorical options open to them for the future. This paper examines the idea of path dependency, a well-established concept in the field of policy studies, and applies it to the study of political rhetoric. It argues that words are sticky, leaving political leaders caught between the desire to utilise fresh and engaging rhetoric to explain new policy choices and the reality that they cannot shake off the wording of their previous promises. In advancing a theory of rhetorical path dependency, the paper builds on the insights of both discursive institutionalism and rhetorical political analysis to suggest that whilst ideas are indeed vital to the shaping of institutions, the arguments that give those ideas shape can themselves be constrained by earlier choices

Economic system · Economics · Epistemology · Law and economics · Linguistics · Path dependency · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Rhetoric · Rhetorical device · Rhetorical question · Sociology · Computer Science · Law · Philosophy · Policy Transfer and Learning · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Social Policy and Reform Studies