Size matters: Promoting NGO agency through organizational identity in discursive structures

Delaney Harness, Purdue University

Abstract

This project examines Human Rights Watch and Human Right First as organizational discursive structures that project organizational identity as a marker of agency in the international human rights system. Within international relations, NGOs are treated as agents within a larger international structure. Communication scholars, however, consider the communication and relationships developed by NGOs. Using the structuration model of identity as a macro model, NGOs are framed as organizational discursive structures expanding communication and international relations research, and placing NGOs as agents in the international human rights system. Organizational discursive structures produce organizational identities that then project agency into the international human rights system. Semantic network analysis visualizes organizational discursive structures as discursive networks to examine values, behaviors, organizational norms and issue areas in the discursive structure. Agency is determined by communicative action that is interpreted through words NGOs use within the discursive structure, and words are determined by the size of the organization. Size determines the strength of agency for NGOs, but smaller NGOs may be able to project more agency by using words with the perception of power.

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

Connaughton, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Communication|International Relations

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