Knowledge, Power, and Participation in Environmental Policy Analysis

Introduction

This volume probes practical dilemmas and competing research perspectives in environmental policy analysis. Scholars working in different fields, research traditions, societies, and policy domains offer significant insights into the processes and consequences of environmental policy making.

Part 1: Coping with Boundaries

describes present-day conflict between experts and greater public participation in environmental policy. It shows that the institutionalization of increasingly complex environmental problems has led to a conflict between technocracy and democracy.

Part 2: The Transnational Challenge

examines modes of cooperation between grassroots movements, scientists, and regional authorities in the United States and Canada. These and other modes of cooperation laid the foundations for the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, increased the effectiveness of air pollution treaties, and increased climate change.

Part 3: Bio-Hazards: Policies and Paralysis

deals with environmental problems closest to the everyday concerns of the public at large because they have immediate implications for food safety and other values.

Part 4: The Citizens' Perspective

focuses on citizen vis-a-vis environmental policy, noting that in order to make policies work citizens must be willing and able to participate in policy-making and cooperate in implementing environmental choices.

Part 5: Confronting Ordinary and Expert Knowledge

explores opportunities and constraints affecting public participation in evaluation of science.

Part 6: Developments in Research Programming

addresses such questions as whether scientists still have opportunities to do the research they want without being interrupted or disturbed by policy makers and other stakeholders.

Part 7: Policy Sciences' Aspirations

explores different avenues for improving environmental policy.

Conclusion

Volume twelve in the PSRA series should inspire further investigations of the relations among knowledge, power, and participation in environmental policy. It will be of timely interest to environmentalists, policy-makers, scholars, and the general public.