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Ireland’s blue fix: exploring blue economy governmentalities in Irish coastal communities Chelsea Beardsley (24292934) PUREID: 689218140 Blue economy governmentality oceans governance neoliberalisation blue growth Oceans and the communities and species that depend upon them face multiple, overlapping stressors including climate change, biodiversity loss, resource overuse, pollution and weak governance. Concurrently, oceans are framed as “frontiers” for exploration and extraction through the blue economy. Approaches to oceans governance that investigate and critically examine how such narratives are dominating global policy, and producing unequal outcomes is needed. <br><br>This thesis conceptualises the blue economy as a project that shapes relationships between society, the oceans, governments and markets. Through a genealogical analysis of Ireland’s marine plan Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (2012-2020), the thesis presents three problematisations of government (following a Foucauldian approach). These are advanced through specific rationalities and technologies. This thesis shows how these blue economy governmentalities construct “fixes” linked to offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, marine protected areas and tourism, following existing research. Grounding this project in the ‘real’ it also explores marine stakeholders responses/resistance to the blue economy governmentalities in Ireland through interviews. As the ideological space around the blue economy becomes busier, devising ways to unpack complexity are needed, which this thesis provides. Ultimately, this thesis shows that incongruent governmentalities are limiting the effectiveness of equitable oceans governance, and alternatives to the blue economy, such as an emancipatory blue economy governmentality are needed. <br><br><i>Thesis is embargoed until 31 July 2028.</i> 2026-10-01T16:12:55Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32805800.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Ireland_s_blue_fix_exploring_blue_economy_governmentalities_in_Irish_coastal_communities/32805800 All Rights Reserved Open Access after 2028-07-31