Thomas Webler - Böcker

An issue facing the citizens and governments of modern democracies is the direct participation of the public in the solution of environmental problems. Governments are increasingly experimenting with approaches that give citizens a greater say in the environmental debate. A crucial question is addressed: how can we measure the performance of the citizen participation process? An approach to the problem is taken by viewing public participation as an act of communication. Drawing on Jurgen Habermas' "Critical Theory of Communication", a normative framework is developed around the central area of citizen participation and competence in knowledge verification. A theoretical and methodological basis for the systematic evaluation of models for environmental discourse is provided. Eight models of citizen participation are studied, from North America and Europe. Each model is evaluated and criticized in paired chapters written by scholars.

Risk as we now know it is a wholly new phenomenon, the by-product of our ever more complex and powerful technologies. In business, policy making, and in everyday life, it demands a new way of looking at technological and environmental uncertainty.In this definitive volume, four of the world's leading risk researchers present a fundamental critique of the prevailing approaches to understanding and managing risk - the 'rational actor paradigm'. They show how risk studies must incorporate the competing interests, values, and rationalities of those involved and find a balance of trust and acceptable risk. Their work points to a comprehensive and significant new theory of risk and uncertainty and of the decision making process they require. The implications for social, political, and environmental theory and practice are enormous.Winner of the 2000-2002 Outstanding Publication Award of the Section on Environment and Technology of the American Sociological Association