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Chapter 358as defining the problem is also defining possible solutions (Feindt & Oels, 2005; Hajer, 1995, p. 83). Hence, competing discourse coalitions negotiate the framing of a policy issue and try to gain support and credibility for their discourse, or challenge other discourses, through the usage of storylines (Metze, 2017; Metze & Dodge, 2016). In answering the research questions, we want to better understand how visualizations contribute to this process in a particular way by producing a visual storyline, a narrative or a plot that is constructed through the use of visual techniques (such as zooming) and visual elements (such as flames) in a certain context (see, for example, Rose, 2001, p. 151). We are interested in studying the dynamics between the discursive storylines of discourse coalitions and the visual storylines they employ.The role of visualizations in understanding a policy issue is acknowledged by scholars in communication and media (Domke et al., 2002; Messaris & Abraham, 2011; O’Neill, 2013; Powell et al., 2015), social movements (Doerr et al., 2015), political science (Grabe & Bucy, 2009), visual studies (Ludes et al., 2014; Mirzoeff, 1999) and policy (Jasanoff, 2004; Morseletto, 2017). The investigation of a visual object often starts with the type of visualization that proposes a set of ‘rules’ that defines the relationship between a visual and ‘reality’ (Hansen, 2011). Thus, for example, maps represent elements from reality differently than photographs do. Viewers are aware of these rules and expect different information from maps and from photographs. Also, the place where the visualization is used, like an informative page or an advertisement, raises expectations (Rose, 2001, pp. 80–81). The text accompanying the visualization is often an element that helps the viewer to identify the specific use and to form his expectations accordingly (Rose, 2001, p. 81). Because of this nature of visualizations, they can narrate, when used within a particular context, a visual storyline and can influence how we understand issues (Hendriks et al., 2017). As such, they have an effect on political mobilization (Doerr, 2017) and governance of policy controversies (Jasanoff, 2004).Studying visualization can add an ocular dimension (see Green, 2010) to the dynamic discourse coalitions approach (see Metze & Dodge, 2016). The degree of coherence between visual storylines and discursive storylines may contribute to four forms of discourse coalition evolution: confirmation, disintegration; integration; polarization (see Figure 3.1).Efrat.indd 58 19-09-2023 09:47