‘Isn’t it information assets we’re really talking about?’ A discourse analysis of a panel discussion on digital archives

This article explores three different discourse, found by analyzing a panel discussion on digital archives held in Sweden in 2011. The aim was to identify the varying implications of different discourse on the holistic concept of the archive. The overall aim was to increase understanding of information governance within the context of e-government. To this end, discourse theory is used to compare and analyze ideas and visions connected to digital archives and then discuss whether the differences depend on different perceptions of the concept of the archive. The result shows that plans and suggestions connected to digital archives vary greatly, possibly as an effect of conflicting discourse. This article argues that the concept of the archive is multifaceted and that it is important to take into account the power of discourse when discussing and planning for archives and records creation, management, preservation and use.