Bioenergy futures: Framing sociotechnical imaginaries in local places

Weston M. Eaton, Stephen P. Gasteyer, Lawrence Busch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

99 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sociotechnical imaginaries are collectively imagined forms of social life reflected in the design and fulfillment of technological projects. While it is implied that there may be contention around sociotechnical imaginaries, the literature on how that contention is manifested is scant. We use a frame-analytic approach to demonstrate the potency of collective action frames for making sense of the national imaginaries underpinning siting proposals. As a case study, we use woody biomass bioenergy development in northern Michigan. After briefly outlining the multiple frames that are encompassed in the imaginary of bioenergy development, we focus on the "wood for energy" frame, employing the concept of "frame keys" to demonstrate how national imaginaries are interpreted differently by local and nonlocal actors involved in community sitings of proposed facilities. We find not only that frame keys are essential to how the national imaginary of bioenergy is interpreted, (re)produced, and responded to but also that framing processes are related to social movements that coalesce around competing collective memories of place.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)227-256
Number of pages30
JournalRural Sociology
Volume79
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Sociology and Political Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Bioenergy futures: Framing sociotechnical imaginaries in local places'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this