An Exploration of Social Investment Discourses in the Oil and Gas Sector

Abstract

The oil and gas (O&G) sector is the leading sector in developing social investments worldwide. O&G companies, mainly multinationals, collectively spend amounts that surpass US$ 500 million per year on social programmes. O&G social investment programmes range from building schools to developing fish-farming initiatives. How O&G social investment is conceptualised may determine its failure or success in alleviating poverty and promoting human development in host countries. In this chapter, I report on an on-going doctoral study aimed at exploring the social investment discourses revealed in O&G experts’ discussion about O&G social investment, and the possible impact of these discourses on local communities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Theoretically, I drew on post-structural and critical theoretical perspectives as a basis for ‘reading’ the participants’ narratives and guidelines documents. Preliminary findings reveal four main discourses of social investment, which I describe as working on, working around, working for and working with communities. However, multiple discourses emerged in most participants’ accounts, resulting in apparent tensions and contradictions. In this paper, I argue that O&G social investment may be most effective in assisting host communities if framed in relation to working with discourses. I identify a need for further research that explores how the discourses identified in the guidelines and interviews actually impact social investment on the ground.