Diskursen

Diskursen, or the discourse, is a concept used in linguistics, sociology, and the humanities to refer to the structured system of statements, practices, and institutions that determine what can be said, believed, and done within a given domain. Discourses shape knowledge, social identities, and actions by setting norms, categories, and boundaries. They are not mere reflections of reality but productive forces that influence policy, power relations, and everyday life.

The concept has roots in several theoretical traditions. In Foucauldian thought, discourses are systems of rules that govern what can be said and how it can be said, creating discursive formations that underpin institutions and practices. In Habermasian theory, discourse relates to rational argument and the ideal of open, inclusive communication. Critical discourse analysis, developed by scholars such as Norman Fairclough and Teun van Dijk, combines linguistic analysis with attention to social power, ideology, and social change, showing how language sustains inequality or can be used to challenge it.

Discourses are studied through methods that trace language in use, institutions, media, and policy. Analysts examine how terminology, metaphors, and narrative frames carry normative assumptions, how certain groups are represented, and how discursive shifts accompany political or social change. Applications span political rhetoric, media studies, education, science policy, and debates on identity, migration, gender, and climate.

See also: Discourse analysis, Critical discourse analysis, Foucauldian discourse, Habermas, Public sphere, Language and society.