Undecidable decisions : an application of agonistic pluralism to an environmental conflict case from post-political Austria

Abstract: As natural resource management is inherently riddled with different opinions and ensuing conflicts, there is no consensus that doesn’t necessarily exclude parts of society. At the same time, there is a need to manage natural resources in order to prevent their depletion by a few. According to Chantal Mouffe and Ernesto Laclau, this undecidability renders every decision that is taken an act of power that favours one possibility over others. This study provides a framework to analyze the paradox of undecidability in a conflict case around the construction of a hydroelectric power plant around the river Isel in Austria and the conflicting designation of the river as a protected area. Sensemakings from in-depth interviews and a media analysis are used to analyse identity construction, hegemonic projects as well as discursive strategies of depoliticization and politicization. The conflict case also gives input to how participation processes in environmental conflicts could look like, if it took Mouffe’s agonistic pluralism into account.