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Europioneers in Space : The Story of the European Space Agency

Elfving, Linnéa LU (2014) EUHR18 20141
European Studies
Abstract
This paper will examine the underlying identity processes of the European Space Agency. The aim is to discover how this agency is presenting itself and why, by using narrative analysis. Narrative analysis has proven to be effective in coming close to a subject’s performed identity. Theories from corporate communications and organisational studies have inspired the portrayal of ESA as a personified agency and, combined with narrative analysis, they will instruct both how the findings were retrieved and how they are presented in this paper. The voice of ESA has been found in certain Europioneers’ expressions, as they are part of the narrative while they are simultaneously creating it. The results from analysing these voices will not only... (More)
This paper will examine the underlying identity processes of the European Space Agency. The aim is to discover how this agency is presenting itself and why, by using narrative analysis. Narrative analysis has proven to be effective in coming close to a subject’s performed identity. Theories from corporate communications and organisational studies have inspired the portrayal of ESA as a personified agency and, combined with narrative analysis, they will instruct both how the findings were retrieved and how they are presented in this paper. The voice of ESA has been found in certain Europioneers’ expressions, as they are part of the narrative while they are simultaneously creating it. The results from analysing these voices will not only clarify the function of ESA’s narrative, but by using David M. Boje’s ideas they will also show aspects beyond the agency’s corporate narrative. While ESA wants to be known as an organisation with great experience in European cooperation making it a legitimate, independent and competent actor on the global space market, there are clearly some stories that have not (yet) been included in the consolidated narrative. (Less)
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author
Elfving, Linnéa LU
supervisor
organization
course
EUHR18 20141
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Narrative analysis, European Space Agency, performed identity, corporate communications
language
English
id
4457005
date added to LUP
2014-08-07 11:52:38
date last changed
2015-12-14 13:23:21
@misc{4457005,
  abstract     = {{This paper will examine the underlying identity processes of the European Space Agency. The aim is to discover how this agency is presenting itself and why, by using narrative analysis. Narrative analysis has proven to be effective in coming close to a subject’s performed identity. Theories from corporate communications and organisational studies have inspired the portrayal of ESA as a personified agency and, combined with narrative analysis, they will instruct both how the findings were retrieved and how they are presented in this paper. The voice of ESA has been found in certain Europioneers’ expressions, as they are part of the narrative while they are simultaneously creating it. The results from analysing these voices will not only clarify the function of ESA’s narrative, but by using David M. Boje’s ideas they will also show aspects beyond the agency’s corporate narrative. While ESA wants to be known as an organisation with great experience in European cooperation making it a legitimate, independent and competent actor on the global space market, there are clearly some stories that have not (yet) been included in the consolidated narrative.}},
  author       = {{Elfving, Linnéa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Europioneers in Space : The Story of the European Space Agency}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}