Statutes and Case Law as Sources for Discourse Analysis When Researching South African Education Reform through a Complexity Theory Lens

This paper explicates how statutes and case law (court cases) can be used as sources for discourse analysis when researching South African education reform through a complexity theory lens. Firstly, the law-making process is built on discourses at different levels. Secondly, discourses are manifested in case law because in order to resolve disputes arguments are presented on which the court is then required to rule. Discourse analysis explores how meaning, identities, activities and relationships are negotiated and constructed and these sources of discourse are useful when the focus is on the study of actions and interactions within the education system. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]