Gambling Discourse in South Australia: Power, Knowledge and Ethics Dr Robert Muller Academic Development University of South Australia 12 August 2006

Purpose of Thesis To understand the debates and power struggles over gambling throughout South Australian history from 1836 To understand the debates and power struggles over gambling throughout South Australian history from 1836 To demonstrate how gambling has been transformed in line with wider social changes throughout South Australian history To demonstrate how gambling has been transformed in line with wider social changes throughout South Australian history To fill a gap in the sociological literature To fill a gap in the sociological literature

Methodology/Theory Playful interplay of methodology/theory Playful interplay of methodology/theory Varying opinions Varying opinions 1. Foucault uses no theory 2. Foucault is all methodology 3. Foucault is a mix of theory and methodology (despite what Foucault says)

Methodology/Theory Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Archaeology/Genealogy Archaeology/Genealogy Composite Theoretical Framework Composite Theoretical Framework Governmentality Governmentality Neo-Liberalism Neo-Liberalism Neo-Liberal Discourse Neo-Liberal Discourse

Composite Theoretical Framework Noticeable gap in sociological theorising on gambling Noticeable gap in sociological theorising on gambling Developed a composite theoretical framework based on theories of contemporary modernity, in other words, theories of how the contemporary social world works Developed a composite theoretical framework based on theories of contemporary modernity, in other words, theories of how the contemporary social world works

Composite Theoretical Framework Foucault’s single article on ‘Governmentality’ (in Burchell, et al., 1991) Foucault’s single article on ‘Governmentality’ (in Burchell, et al., 1991) The Governmentality literature The Governmentality literature MacIntyre (1981) – ‘critical history’ of morality within modernity MacIntyre (1981) – ‘critical history’ of morality within modernity Campbell (1987) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism and associated hedonism Campbell (1987) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism and associated hedonism Bell (2001) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism and culture throughout modernity Bell (2001) – ‘critical history’ of consumerism and culture throughout modernity Wagner (1994) – a ‘critical history’ of modernity Wagner (1994) – a ‘critical history’ of modernity

Data Sources Data for thesis: how to make sense of a mountain of differing forms of data Data for thesis: how to make sense of a mountain of differing forms of data 156 written submissions and 85 oral submissions to National Inquiry into Gambling and more than 1000 pages of the deliberations and findings of the Inquiry 156 written submissions and 85 oral submissions to National Inquiry into Gambling and more than 1000 pages of the deliberations and findings of the Inquiry Range of historical documents (newspapers, Royal Commissions, pamphlets, government documents) Range of historical documents (newspapers, Royal Commissions, pamphlets, government documents) Contemporary documents (Adelaide Casino staff training manual, hotel advertising) Contemporary documents (Adelaide Casino staff training manual, hotel advertising)

Solution? Use a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Use a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis But why? But why?

Gambling is a conflict-ridden area of social life Gambling is a conflict-ridden area of social life Myriad of opposing definitions of gambling Myriad of opposing definitions of gambling Foucault emphasises power, conflict, and truth as contingent Foucault emphasises power, conflict, and truth as contingent Power differentials characterised by strategies, counter-strategies and resistance Power differentials characterised by strategies, counter-strategies and resistance Conflict between different actors, leading to a polarisation of social positions Conflict between different actors, leading to a polarisation of social positions Truth as contingent (different ‘truths’ or constructions of gambling) Truth as contingent (different ‘truths’ or constructions of gambling) A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis can uncover all of these aspects of social life A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis can uncover all of these aspects of social life

Social Analysis, Not Linguistic Analysis Foucauldian Discourse Analysis is not a linguistic analysis Foucauldian Discourse Analysis is not a linguistic analysis Instead, Foucauldian Discourse Analysis emphasises ‘the social’ through examining the interaction between ‘what is said’ and ‘what is produced as a result of what is said’ and the social ramifications of this interaction Instead, Foucauldian Discourse Analysis emphasises ‘the social’ through examining the interaction between ‘what is said’ and ‘what is produced as a result of what is said’ and the social ramifications of this interaction Power/Knowledge (inseparable relationship) Power/Knowledge (inseparable relationship)

Example Some gambling counsellors construct gamblers with gambling problems as ‘pathological’, producing certain documents and treatment methods (written down), rendering the gambler as having a pathology (sickness) and as subject to particular treatments Some gambling counsellors construct gamblers with gambling problems as ‘pathological’, producing certain documents and treatment methods (written down), rendering the gambler as having a pathology (sickness) and as subject to particular treatments Other counsellors construct gamblers as ‘compulsive’, producing different documents, rendering the gambler as having an ‘impulse’ problem and subject to different treatments Other counsellors construct gamblers as ‘compulsive’, producing different documents, rendering the gambler as having an ‘impulse’ problem and subject to different treatments

Discourse My discourse analysis is a search for complexity, seeking to map out the inherent ‘messiness’ of contemporary moral debate around gambling My discourse analysis is a search for complexity, seeking to map out the inherent ‘messiness’ of contemporary moral debate around gambling Contemporary social relations around gambling considered to be representations. Concept of discourse allowed me to understand these representations & to explain them sociologically Contemporary social relations around gambling considered to be representations. Concept of discourse allowed me to understand these representations & to explain them sociologically

Archaeology/Genealogy Overall, these methodologies seek to: Overall, these methodologies seek to: Expose conceptual breaks in particular discourses over time, representing turning points in history Expose conceptual breaks in particular discourses over time, representing turning points in history Reject the notion of ‘linear’ history Reject the notion of ‘linear’ history Use local, mundane forms of knowledge utilised in the ‘everydayness’ of life, within social institutions Use local, mundane forms of knowledge utilised in the ‘everydayness’ of life, within social institutions

But what is the context within which these discourses are situated?

Governmentality A theory of how ‘modern’ society is governed A theory of how ‘modern’ society is governed Movement from the ‘pre-modern’ in which power vested in ‘the sovereign’ to the ‘modern’ in which power is vested in ‘the state’, often the ‘democratic state’ Movement from the ‘pre-modern’ in which power vested in ‘the sovereign’ to the ‘modern’ in which power is vested in ‘the state’, often the ‘democratic state’ High point considered to be the welfare state High point considered to be the welfare state

Neo-Liberalism Debate from a wide range of sociological theorists (including Governmentality theorists) that we have entered a new phase Debate from a wide range of sociological theorists (including Governmentality theorists) that we have entered a new phase Neo-Liberal discourse has permeated it’s way through most other discourses in ‘late modernity’ Neo-Liberal discourse has permeated it’s way through most other discourses in ‘late modernity’

My argument? My argument? A bit different A bit different

Neo-Liberal Discourse Allowed me to frame my argument as all discourses being influenced in some way by Neo-Liberal Discourse Allowed me to frame my argument as all discourses being influenced in some way by Neo-Liberal Discourse Market relations Market relations Choice Choice Consumers enacting their ‘consumer freedom’ through choice (Rose, 2001) Consumers enacting their ‘consumer freedom’ through choice (Rose, 2001) ‘Entrepreneurs of the self’ (Gordon, in Burchell, 1991) ‘Entrepreneurs of the self’ (Gordon, in Burchell, 1991)

Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Full circle back to FDA Full circle back to FDA Neo-Liberal Discourse allowed me to place my discourse analysis of the local gambling industry within a contemporary framework Neo-Liberal Discourse allowed me to place my discourse analysis of the local gambling industry within a contemporary framework

Conclusions Conflict Conflict Two sides of the debate Two sides of the debate Underlying tensions within Modernity, based on these same Enlightenment ideals Underlying tensions within Modernity, based on these same Enlightenment ideals Underlying norms and values behind disagreements over gambling Underlying norms and values behind disagreements over gambling These are not separate from society, but instead intricately linked to macro social processes These are not separate from society, but instead intricately linked to macro social processes

Conclusions Debates on gambling are linked to the oscillation of the regulatory environment throughout history Debates on gambling are linked to the oscillation of the regulatory environment throughout history Discourses of Freedom v Discourses of Determinism Discourses of Freedom v Discourses of Determinism ‘Gambling as gaming’ and ‘gambling as entertainment’ ‘Gambling as gaming’ and ‘gambling as entertainment’ Tactics used by industry do not allow freedom Tactics used by industry do not allow freedom

Conclusions Social constructions of gambling subject Social constructions of gambling subject ‘Pokies’ industry established in a neo- liberal society ‘Pokies’ industry established in a neo- liberal society Polarisation Polarisation