Gambling Discourse in South Australia: Gambling Discourse in South Australia:

Power, Knowledge and EthicsPower, Knowledge and Ethics

Dr Robert MullerDr Robert Muller

Academic DevelopmentAcademic Development

University of South AustraliaUniversity of South Australia

12 August 200612 August 2006

Purpose of ThesisPurpose of Thesis

To understand the debates and power To understand the debates and power struggles over gambling throughout struggles over gambling throughout South Australian history from 1836South Australian history from 1836

To demonstrate how gambling has been To demonstrate how gambling has been transformed in line with wider social transformed in line with wider social changes throughout South Australian changes throughout South Australian historyhistory

To fill a gap in the sociological literatureTo fill a gap in the sociological literature

Methodology/TheoryMethodology/Theory

Playful interplay of Playful interplay of methodology/theorymethodology/theory

Varying opinionsVarying opinions

1.1. Foucault uses no theoryFoucault uses no theory

2.2. Foucault is all methodologyFoucault is all methodology

3.3. Foucault is a mix of theory and Foucault is a mix of theory and methodology (despite what Foucault methodology (despite what Foucault says)says)

Methodology/TheoryMethodology/Theory

Foucauldian Discourse AnalysisFoucauldian Discourse Analysis Archaeology/GenealogyArchaeology/Genealogy

Composite Theoretical Framework Composite Theoretical Framework GovernmentalityGovernmentality Neo-LiberalismNeo-Liberalism

Neo-Liberal DiscourseNeo-Liberal Discourse

Composite Theoretical FrameworkComposite Theoretical Framework

Noticeable gap in sociological theorising Noticeable gap in sociological theorising on gamblingon gambling

Developed a composite theoretical Developed a composite theoretical framework based on theories of framework based on theories of contemporary modernity, in other contemporary modernity, in other words, theories of how the words, theories of how the contemporary social world workscontemporary social world works

Composite Theoretical FrameworkComposite Theoretical Framework

Foucault’s single article on ‘Governmentality’ Foucault’s single article on ‘Governmentality’ (in Burchell, et al., 1991)(in Burchell, et al., 1991)

The Governmentality literatureThe Governmentality literature MacIntyre (1981) – ‘critical history’ of MacIntyre (1981) – ‘critical history’ of

morality within modernitymorality within modernity Campbell (1987) – ‘critical history’ of Campbell (1987) – ‘critical history’ of

consumerism and associated hedonismconsumerism and associated hedonism Bell (2001) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism Bell (2001) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism

and culture throughout modernityand culture throughout modernity Wagner (1994) – a ‘critical history’ of Wagner (1994) – a ‘critical history’ of

modernitymodernity

Data SourcesData Sources Data for thesis: how to make sense of a Data for thesis: how to make sense of a

mountain of differing forms of datamountain of differing forms of data

156 written submissions and 85 oral 156 written submissions and 85 oral submissions to National Inquiry into submissions to National Inquiry into Gambling and more than 1000 pages of the Gambling and more than 1000 pages of the deliberations and findings of the Inquirydeliberations and findings of the Inquiry

Range of historical documents Range of historical documents (newspapers, Royal Commissions, (newspapers, Royal Commissions, pamphlets, government documents)pamphlets, government documents)

Contemporary documents (Adelaide Casino Contemporary documents (Adelaide Casino staff training manual, hotel advertising) staff training manual, hotel advertising)

Solution?Solution?

Use a Foucauldian Discourse AnalysisUse a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis But why?But why?

Gambling is a conflict-ridden area of social Gambling is a conflict-ridden area of social lifelife

Myriad of opposing definitions of gamblingMyriad of opposing definitions of gambling Foucault emphasises power, conflict, and Foucault emphasises power, conflict, and

truth as contingenttruth as contingent Power differentials characterised by Power differentials characterised by

strategies, counter-strategies and resistancestrategies, counter-strategies and resistance Conflict between different actors, leading to Conflict between different actors, leading to

a polarisation of social positionsa polarisation of social positions Truth as contingent (different ‘truths’ or Truth as contingent (different ‘truths’ or

constructions of gambling)constructions of gambling)

A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis can A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis can uncover all of these aspects of social lifeuncover all of these aspects of social life

Social Analysis, Not Linguistic Social Analysis, Not Linguistic AnalysisAnalysis

Foucauldian Discourse Analysis is not a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis is not a linguistic analysis linguistic analysis

Instead, Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Instead, Foucauldian Discourse Analysis emphasises ‘the social’ through examining emphasises ‘the social’ through examining the the interaction between ‘what is said’ and interaction between ‘what is said’ and ‘what is produced as a result of what is ‘what is produced as a result of what is said’ and the social ramifications of this said’ and the social ramifications of this interactioninteraction

Power/Knowledge (inseparable relationship)Power/Knowledge (inseparable relationship)

ExampleExample Some gambling counsellors construct Some gambling counsellors construct

gamblers with gambling problems as gamblers with gambling problems as ‘pathological’, producing certain documents ‘pathological’, producing certain documents and treatment methods (written down), and treatment methods (written down), rendering the gambler as having a pathology rendering the gambler as having a pathology (sickness) and as subject to particular (sickness) and as subject to particular treatments treatments

Other counsellors construct gamblers as Other counsellors construct gamblers as ‘compulsive’, producing different documents, ‘compulsive’, producing different documents, rendering the gambler as having an ‘impulse’ rendering the gambler as having an ‘impulse’ problem and subject to different treatments problem and subject to different treatments

DiscourseDiscourse

My discourse analysis is a search for My discourse analysis is a search for complexity, seeking to map out the inherent complexity, seeking to map out the inherent ‘messiness’ of contemporary moral debate ‘messiness’ of contemporary moral debate around gamblingaround gambling

Contemporary social relations around Contemporary social relations around gambling considered to be representations. gambling considered to be representations. Concept of discourse allowed me to Concept of discourse allowed me to understand these representations & to understand these representations & to explain them sociologicallyexplain them sociologically

Archaeology/GenealogyArchaeology/Genealogy

Overall, these methodologies seek to:Overall, these methodologies seek to: Expose conceptual breaks in Expose conceptual breaks in

particular discourses over time, particular discourses over time, representing turning points in historyrepresenting turning points in history

Reject the notion of ‘linear’ historyReject the notion of ‘linear’ history Use local, mundane forms of Use local, mundane forms of

knowledge utilised in the knowledge utilised in the ‘everydayness’ of life, within social ‘everydayness’ of life, within social institutionsinstitutions

But what is the context within But what is the context within which these discourses are which these discourses are

situated?situated?

GovernmentalityGovernmentality

A theory of how ‘modern’ society is A theory of how ‘modern’ society is governedgoverned

Movement from the ‘pre-modern’ in Movement from the ‘pre-modern’ in which power vested in ‘the which power vested in ‘the sovereign’ to the ‘modern’ in which sovereign’ to the ‘modern’ in which power is vested in ‘the state’, often power is vested in ‘the state’, often the ‘democratic state’ the ‘democratic state’

High point considered to be the High point considered to be the welfare statewelfare state

Neo-LiberalismNeo-Liberalism

Debate from a wide range of Debate from a wide range of sociological theorists (including sociological theorists (including Governmentality theorists) that we Governmentality theorists) that we have entered a new phasehave entered a new phase

Neo-Liberal discourse has permeated Neo-Liberal discourse has permeated it’s way through most other it’s way through most other discourses in ‘late modernity’ discourses in ‘late modernity’

My argument?My argument?

A bit differentA bit different

Neo-Liberal DiscourseNeo-Liberal Discourse Allowed me to frame my argument Allowed me to frame my argument

as all discourses being influenced in as all discourses being influenced in some way by Neo-Liberal Discourse some way by Neo-Liberal Discourse

Market relationsMarket relations ChoiceChoice Consumers enacting their ‘consumer Consumers enacting their ‘consumer

freedom’ through choicefreedom’ through choice (Rose, (Rose, 2001)2001)

‘‘Entrepreneurs of the self’Entrepreneurs of the self’ (Gordon, (Gordon, in Burchell, 1991)in Burchell, 1991)

Foucauldian Discourse AnalysisFoucauldian Discourse Analysis

Full circle back to FDAFull circle back to FDA

Neo-Liberal Discourse allowed me to Neo-Liberal Discourse allowed me to place my discourse analysis of the place my discourse analysis of the local gambling industry within a local gambling industry within a contemporary framework contemporary framework

ConclusionsConclusions

ConflictConflict Two sides of the debateTwo sides of the debate Underlying tensions within Modernity, Underlying tensions within Modernity,

based on these same Enlightenment based on these same Enlightenment idealsideals

Underlying norms and values behind Underlying norms and values behind disagreements over gamblingdisagreements over gambling

These are not separate from society, These are not separate from society, but instead intricately linked to macro but instead intricately linked to macro social processessocial processes

ConclusionsConclusions

Debates on gambling are linked to Debates on gambling are linked to the oscillation of the regulatory the oscillation of the regulatory environment throughout historyenvironment throughout history

Discourses of Freedom v Discourses Discourses of Freedom v Discourses of Determinismof Determinism

‘‘Gambling as gaming’ and ‘gambling Gambling as gaming’ and ‘gambling as entertainment’as entertainment’

Tactics used by industry do not allow Tactics used by industry do not allow freedom freedom

ConclusionsConclusions

Social constructions of gambling Social constructions of gambling subjectsubject

‘‘Pokies’ industry established in a Pokies’ industry established in a neo-liberal societyneo-liberal society

PolarisationPolarisation