Introducing Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis Methodology for Analyzing Caribbean Social Problems: Going Beyond Systems, Resources, Social Action, Social Practices and Forces of Structure or Lack Thereof as Units of Analysis

Abstract

Since the turn of the millennium, many Caribbean social scientists have still been battling to understand and thus solve old as well as new and emerging problems facing Caribbean countries. The dominant approach to understanding these problems has generally focused on systems, resources social action, social practices and forces of structure or lack thereof as units of analysis. Recent scholarship in the global sphere has, however, suggested that these problems may be, rather, a result of language and discourse. Yet, only a few Caribbean social scientists have recognized this discovery. And, even within this select group, none has demonstrated any real appreciation of systematically analyzing the discourses surrounding Caribbean social life, leaving them open to criticisms regarding rigour and trustworthiness. This has wide implications for the research process, the acceptance of findings as well as for policy recommendations. This article thus attempts to expand the social practice level analysis to include discourse as a moment of social life. It also seeks to highlight and draw attention to one possible methodology and analytical tool for systematically analyzing discourse - Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis Approach. Such an approach aims to explore as well as articulate how language, power and (to some extent) ideology are related to social practices as broader social and historical contexts. Given the power dynamics of Caribbean social life, such an approach is indeed appropriate.