Deliverable D2.4: The Theoretical Framework

Citation

Webster CWR, Leleux C, Wright D, Raab CD, Jones R, De Hert P & Galetta A (2013) Deliverable D2.4: The Theoretical Framework. IRISS Work Package 2, 2.4.

Abstract
This discussion paper sets out the analytical theoretical framework for the IRISS project. The framework is designed to capture existing knowledge about surveillance and democracy and to shape the direction of the empirical research to be conducted in the project. The framework therefore represents the consolidation of existing knowledge and a methodological tool for creating new knowledge. The framework is organised around three core perspectives, or ‘ways of seeing', each of which alerts us to a different set of themes and research questions. The perspectives are not mutually exclusive, they are different ways of comprehending the surveillance phenomena. The paper is organised around three main chapters. Chapter 1 sets out the purpose of Task 2.4 and the theoretical framework, including the methodological approach adopted. Chapter 2 presents the three main theoretical perspectives that make up the theoretical framework, the social, political and legal perspectives, including core themes and potential research questions/directions. Each of the perspectives presented here is a distillation of the ideas presented in IRISS Deliverables 2.1 (the social perspective), 2.2 (the political perspective) and 2.3 (the legal perspective). Chapter 3 presents the IRISS Theoretical Framework, a distillation of the themes and ideas presented in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 also includes a note about methodology and how the theoretical framework can be operationalised.