Gold mining in Mount Ida :|development discourses and valuation languages in the social media

Abstract

This thesis analyses the development discourses and valuation languages used in the social media during the environmental conflict over the gold mining project in Mount Ida. Public opposition had escalated at the operational stage of the project when the Canadian company, Alamos Gold, cut down 195.000 trees to start the mining activities. Social media was a vital pillar of the debate in 2019 and played an essential role in social appraisal. Based on the social media analysis, I examine the actors’ opposing or supporting arguments for the project. In particular, I use Twitter as a source to explore the values attributed to the environment. By analyzing both sides’ tweets between 24 July 2019 and 31 August 2019 using qualitative methods, I draw development discourses and valuation languages dominating the scene. The research findings suggest that while opposing actors articulate discourses rich in valuation languages, create substance and value for the discussion from the environmental, economic, and cultural perspectives, supporting actors’ arguments were superficial and shallow. The study also reveals that both groups have prejudices towards each other.