Open AccessKampen om sammenhængskraften - En analyse af begrebet sammenhængskraft i den offentlige debat fra 1994 til 2010
Author(s) -
Rikke Louise Alberg Peters
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
slagmark
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1904-8602
pISSN - 0108-8084
DOI - 10.7146/sl.v0i70.104405
Subject(s) - cohesion (chemistry) , danish , adversary , politics , battle , epistemology , meaning (existential) , sociology , conceptual history , political science , law , philosophy , history , linguistics , chemistry , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry , archaeology
This article addresses the Danish concept ‘sammenhængskraft’ (social cohesion) in its shifting articulations in the Danish public debate from 1994-2010. By combining a discursive analytical approach with Reinhart Koselleck’s notion of asymmetric counterconcepts it is demonstrated how the concept is embedded in various political discourses. Through this process, which is described as a semantic battle, it gradually changes its meaning from an open social political concept used in particular when discussing future socio political challenges in the well fare state to a national conservative – and defensive – key concept. It is argued that when usedin a political conflict as a conceptual tool with which to fight the enemy the term ‘sammenhængskraft’ creates disintegration rather than cohesion.