This dissertation analyzes the case of organized climate change
denial in the United States as a manifestation of the power of the policy
planning and opinion shaping networks in the US. It uses a variety of
power structure research techniques to put together a topographical study
of a fossil fuels network sitting at the core of a wider conservative network
which sits at the core of the policy planning and opinion shaping
processes. The connections between the core fossil fuels network and
wider conservative policy network are examined at length. Using climate
change denial as the case allows for the study of how a distinct industry—
fossil fuels—can organize a faction which can help set the ideological
agenda of the wider corporate and conservative networks. A power elite
theoretical approach outlined by Domhoff is used, and the conclusions
that may be drawn from this case study support the usefulness of that
approach. I also find that the case at hand illustrates how Domhoff’s
model may be extended and augmented in light of the strategic and
tactical innovations employed by those in the climate change denial
faction. Although elites have often tried—with varying levels of success—to
employ at least a veneer of populist support in formulating policy, climate
change denial employs a new level of sophistication in then fossil fuels’
faction’s long-term strategic planning and investment. This faction’s ability to wrest ideological control of much of the tea party movement and bring that party's policy aims into lie with its own allowed for the addition of a powerful populist element to the climate change denial tactical repertoire. Similarly, new
secrecy techniques go far beyond those used by elites in the past,
reflecting a new set of needs on the part of the individuals and groups
involved in the policy network and necessitating the augmentation of the
existing network with specialized entities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uoregon.edu/oai:scholarsbank.uoregon.edu:1794/19353 |
| Date | 18 August 2015 |
| Creators | Gunn, Jeffrey |
| Contributors | Dreiling, Michael |
| Publisher | University of Oregon |
| Source Sets | University of Oregon |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Rights | All Rights Reserved. |
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