Risk management and political culture : a comparative study of science in the policy context

This unique comparative study looks at efforts to regulate carcinogenic chemicals in several Western democracies, including the United States, and finds marked national differences in how conflicting scientific interpretations and competing political interests are resolved. Whether risk issues are referred to expert committees without public debate or debated openly in a variety of forums, patterns of interaction among experts, policy makers, and the public reflect fundamental features of each country's political culture. "A provocative argument....Poses interesting questions for the sociology of science, especially science produced for public debate."―Contemporary Sociology A Volume in the Russell Sage Foundation's Social Science Frontiers Series Cover Title page, Copyright Foreword Contents Chapter 1. The Case for Comparative Analysis Chapter 2. The Many Faces of "Cancer Policy" Chapter 3. Identifying Carcinogens Chapter 4. Risk Assessment Chapter 5. Accommodating Scientific Change Chapter 6. Regulation of Formaldehyde Chapter 7. The Cultures of Participation Chapter 8. Neutral Expertise Chapter 9. Conclusion Notes By Sheila Jasanoff. Bibliography: P. 85-93.