Argument and Multiple Identities: Contemporary European Nationalism and Environmentalism.

The relationship between argument and social identity is a largely unexplored topic. In general, social psychologists examining this issue tend to view language from the perspective of one's cultural heritage, rather than examining the role of public discourse or argument in the construction of social identity. Even within this restricted focus on language, the rhetorical force is missed. As Taylor and Moghaddam (1994) assert: "Although language can contribute to the demarcation of group boundaries and the development of group identity, many groups exist without a common language. In short, language is a contributor to, but not a prerequisite for, intergroup behavior. Consequently, any theory of intergroup relation that focuses on language will necessarily be restricted to a small number of cases, which may not even be the more important cases" (p. 92). Even Edwards (1992), who is arguably the strongest proponent for an analysis of language within social identity, focuses on its role in terms of constructing ethnic identity (and while arguing for a cross-disciplinary approach, remains unaware of intercultural communication studies relevant to ethnicity). It should be noted that this state of affairs is not unique to the present subject; even within social psychology, identity theory and social identity theory developed in general isolation from one another while focusing on similar concerns (Hogg, Terry, & White, 1995). Our approach will necessarily be preliminary in relating argumentation to social identity. We assume at the outset that social identity is a "multiple construct"-just as a person contains a multiplicity of "selves" so too does one's relation to a social group admit of multiple facets (Deaux, 1992, 1993; Deaux, Reid, Mizrahi, & Ethier, 1995; Mouffe, 1993). We also assume that ingroup/outgroup relationships of solidarity/differentiation (Brewer, 1991) are a product, in part, of the discourse that constructs and names (thereby giving meaning to) the relational matrix in which a social identity is located. A review of the basic tenets of social identity theory is presented below. Following that discussion, we will employ two illustrations to examine the relationship between argument and the creation and maintenance of social identity. The first illustration focuses on nationalism as given expression in the divided city of Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovena during the recent warfare in that troubled land. The second focuses on environmentalism as given expression in the dispute over the status of the Brent Spar oil rig in the North Sea. SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY The basic premise of social identity theory (Breakwell, 1992; Deaux, 1992; Edwards, 1992; Hogg, 1992, Hogg & Abrams, 1988; Tajfel & Turner, 1979; Taylor & Moghaddam, 1994) - including self-categorization theory (Oakes, Haslam, & Turner, 1994; Turner, 1982, 1985, 1991; Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher, & Wetherell, 1987) - is that the defining characteristics of a social category (such as nationality) may become part of one's self-concept and influence perception and conduct (Hogg, Terry, & White, 1995, pp. 259-260). Since a person may fit into several social categories (even contradictory ones) at one and the same time, the importance of participation in any one category will be dependent on the salience of that category at that moment in time. For example, a Serbian in Sarajevo may perceive himself to be a loyal Serb and at the same time be in love with a Muslim woman; given the contradictory nature of these impulses within that country at this time, choosing to act as a Serb or a man in love will suggest which impulse is more salient (as was demonstrated in the death of two young lovers as they sought "safe passage" out of Sarajevo on October 25, 1993 [Drakulic, 1996b]). Social Identity Principles: Self-Categorization and Self-Enhancement Social identity theory further postulates the operation of two underlying processes: categorization and self-enhancement (Hogg et al. …