Diskursfeldern

Diskursfeldern is a concept in discourse studies that describes the structured arenas in society where particular discourses are produced, circulated, and contested. It emphasizes that discourses are not universal but embedded in social fields defined by actors, institutions, norms, and power relations. The term is used to analyze how language practices reflect and reinforce social order, and how changes in policy, media, or science can shift the boundaries of what is considered legitimate knowledge or action within a given context.

The notion draws on work in discourse analysis, sociology, and field theory. In this view, fields are relational and dynamic: actors compete to define problems, frame solutions, and legitimize proposals. Diskursfelder are shaped by institutions such as media organizations, political parties, universities, and interest groups, and by relationships of power and capital. They are not static; they evolve as social and political conditions change.

Domains commonly studied as Diskursfelder include politics and policy, media and public communication, science and technology, health and medicine, and education. Researchers examine what topics are highlighted, what vocabularies and metaphors prevail, who is authorized to speak, and how counter-discourses gain or lose influence. The analysis often focuses on how discourses construct problems, justify actions, and discipline or empower certain audiences.

Methodologically, analysts map Diskursfelder through qualitative text analysis, discourse-network analysis, framing analysis, and corpus-based approaches, often combining textual data with information about actors and institutions.