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Messianic Moments in Communicating Sustainability

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Nachhaltigkeit in der Wirtschaftskommunikation

Part of the book series: Europäische Kulturen in der Wirtschaftskommunikation ((EKW,volume 24))

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Abstract

Using an ethnographic story to theorize and generalize beyond a case, the article describes and discusses the emergence of “messianic moments” within scientific professional interaction at a training course session on climate change impacts and sustainability. Using the concepts of knowledge asymmetries and renewability, the article argues how messianic moments allow for the temporary co-existence of the models and predictions of science, as well as the politics and culture of lived experience. Heterogeneous, paradoxical and non-coherent forms of knowing, which emerge and are recognized in messianic moments, are seen to secure the renewability and replenishment of the sustainability concept. The encouraging of messianic moments to emerge in scientific professional interaction is suggested to contribute to a sustainable professional communication of sustainability.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aarhus, Dänemark

    Prof. Dr. Ushma C. Jacobsen

Authors
  1. Prof. Dr. Ushma C. Jacobsen
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Communication, Aarhus University, Aarhus V, Denmark

    Martin Nielsen

  2. Wiesbaden, Germany

    Iris Rittenhofer

  3. Wiesbaden, Germany

    Marianne Grove Ditlevsen

  4. Wiesbaden, Germany

    Sophie Esmann Andersen

  5. Wiesbaden, Germany

    Irene Pollach

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Jacobsen, U. (2013). Messianic Moments in Communicating Sustainability. In: Nielsen, M., Rittenhofer, I., Grove Ditlevsen, M., Esmann Andersen, S., Pollach, I. (eds) Nachhaltigkeit in der Wirtschaftskommunikation. Europäische Kulturen in der Wirtschaftskommunikation, vol 24. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-03452-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-03452-8_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer VS, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-658-03451-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-658-03452-8

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Science (German Language)

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