Lobbyism in the Norwegian Seafood Industry

Abstract

This master thesis examines corporate public policy and lobbyism in the Norwegian seafood industry, and how lobbyism is a necessary aspect of the democratic korporative system. The thesis consists of two analyses with two different methods, which complement each other. This paper ́s first analysis is a discoursanalyse constituted on Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe ́s post-structuralist hegemonic discourse theory. This will help to construct the different discourses that appear within the Norwegian seafood industry, which construct the dimensions of knowledge in its environment, as well as provide insight in how the formation of the discourses fix meaning and the hegemonic struggle between them. There are identified three discourses who are prominent within Norwegian seafood. These discourses produce progressive knowledge in the seafood industry. More importantly the discourses provide information on which elements there is an establishment of meaning about. The second analysis is a governmentality analysis based on Michel Foucault’s concept of governmentality. It is a sub-analysis and therefore contains much less scope. Its purpose is to elucidate how lobbyism acts/behave in a corporatisitic context, as well as the importance of the different aspects of knowledge and power. The discussion incorporates both of the analysis, and addresses the thesis problem and purpose. The results of both analyses are perspectives and how they compliment each other. It discusses how lobbyism is an important instrument on how Norwegian seafood maintains a productive and sustainable value in the future, as well as its importance for the society. The thesis concludes that lobbyism is a prerequisite for developing a sustainable and progressive seafood industry in Norway. The paper also observes that the government is in fact in need of external information to be capable of making the most competent decisions.