Negotiating Power in Workplace Dispute Mediation: a Dialogical Perspective
Informazioni aggiuntive
Autori
van Bijnen E.
Tipo
Relazione in convegno scientifico
Anno
2017
Lingua
Inglese
Abstract
In this qualitative study, the relation between power dynamics and discourse in labor dispute mediation dialogues is examined. Adopting Gramsci’s (1971) concept of hegemony and Foucault′s notion that power is not fixed in dialogues, but instead constantly negotiated by participants (i.e. Foucault 1980; 1995), the idea is presented that power asymmetries are (re-)negotiated when parties enter into dispute mediation. The power dynamics shift in the new institutional setting when mediators subordinate dominant parties and try to level out the initial power imbalance between the parties by enforcing their own formalized power as procedural guides. Mediators do so using specific interventions that correlate with the four devices Fairclough (1989, p. 135-137) states can be used by dominant participants to control weaker parties in dialogues: interruption, enforcing explicitness, topic control, and formulation.
Nome conferenza
2017 International Association for Dialogue Analysis (IADA) Conference
Luogo conferenza
Bologna, Italy
Data conferenza
October 11-17
Parole chiave
Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Argumentation, Power Asymmetry, Critical Discourse Analysis