Technocracy, Democracy, and U.S. Climate Politics: The Need for Demarcations

TitleTechnocracy, Democracy, and U.S. Climate Politics: The Need for Demarcations
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsLahsen, Myanna
JournalScience, Technology, & Human Values
Volume30
Issue1
Pagination137-169
AbstractUlrich Beck and other theoristso f reflexivem odernizationa re allies in the general project to reduce technocracy and elitism by rendering decision making more democratic and robust. However, this study of U.S. climate politics reveals complexities and obstacles to the sort of democratized decision making envisioned by such theorists. Since the early 1990s, the U.S. public has been subjected to numerous media-driven campaigns to shape understandingso f this widelyp erceived threat.P olitical interestsh ave instigated an importantp art of these campaigns,f requentlyr esortingt o ethicallyp roblematict actics to undermine attempts atpolicy action designed to avert or reduce the threat. The disproportionate influence of such interests suggests the needfor a more level political playing field characterized by more equalized access to power and influence.
Notes'Notes for Memo 2\n\nLack of an understanding of science among government officials led to confusion about the science behind climate change in governing bodies of the US, such as Congress.\nThis is one of the STS pieces that will form a framework for my thesis.\nI found this article in a Jstor search.  It is in Science, Technology, and Human Values, a peer-reviewed journal.\n\n - mcdevl2'