DISCOURSE THEORY AND NORMATIVE EVALUATION OF PUBLIC DEBATES

Public debates play an important role in consensus-building on infrastructure projects. This study explores the relevant role and issues of public debates regarding infrastructure projects and develops a theoretical framework to ensure the legitimacy of social decision-making through the overall content of various debates. Introducing the concept of discourse system, it points out that public discourses consist of micro discourses focusing on specific public debate and macro discourses focusing on the whole discourse system. It is suggested that public involvement serves to connect the micro and macro discursive spheres. Finally, the fundamental principles of public discourses, important issues to overcome in order to realize good debates, and basic frameworks to evaluate the appropriateness of debates are discussed.