Master thesis | European Politics and Society: Vaclav Havel Joint Master Programme
open access
The necessity of a transition to a more sustainable food system is widely recognised, but the path that should be taken to achieve this is strongly contested. In 2020 the European Commission...Show moreThe necessity of a transition to a more sustainable food system is widely recognised, but the path that should be taken to achieve this is strongly contested. In 2020 the European Commission published the Farm to Fork Strategy, a policy framework which has the aim of facilitating the transition to a more sustainable food system in the European Union. Since its publication, it has however faced mounting opposition and consequently there are growing concerns that the original promise of the Strategy will be watered down. In light of the need to build and maintain support for the Farm to Fork Strategy throughout the EU, a deeper understanding of the media discourse on this issue can provide important insights for policymakers and campaigners. There is, however, little research on the media discourse on sustainability, and even less on sustainable food systems. Using Austria and Czechia as case studies, this thesis investigates the media discourse on sustainable food systems in the European Union. My findings demonstrate that while there are many similarities in the reporting, there are also important differences in the content of the media coverage between the two countries. Furthermore, I find that frames which emphasise the role of the market in addressing sustainability issues are dominant in the coverage across both countries. Other key frames identified include the role of regulation in transitioning to sustainable food systems, as well as the potential of technological solutions. Furthermore, a new frame is identified that emphasises how the negative impacts of imported food such as food insecurity and carbon emissions can be avoided through prioritisation of nationally produced food.Show less
In response to the financial crisis on Wall Street in 2008, the financial world in which the patriarchy still ruled was held accountable by the media. As a result, new outlets such as Time Magazine...Show moreIn response to the financial crisis on Wall Street in 2008, the financial world in which the patriarchy still ruled was held accountable by the media. As a result, new outlets such as Time Magazine and The New York Times began portraying women as the perfect fit for the role of regulator. This paper analyzes to what extent the gendered narrative has been constructed by the media and how. Based on critical discourse analysis theory, this research proves that through the use of metaphors, the media actively helps to shape a dichotomized climate in which women are always depicted as ‘the other’. Analyzing the narrative describing two women (Sheila Bair and Elizabeth Warren), this study reveals that they were projected to gender rhetoric, hereby focussing on four metaphorical themes. This study has implications for the theory of Critical Discourse Analysis and studies on gender framing.Show less
