Second, such a role also depends on the potential utility of lay knowledge Problems (as asserted in the academic tradition and criticized in STS studies). Renders it self-sufficient for dealing with given technological or environmental In our view the role of lay knowledge in adequate policy formulationįirst, on the nature of expert knowledge, i.e., whether or not the socialĬontext of expert knowledge provides it with an epistemic excellence which It is only through case studies that more precision Including those politically concerned (such as green activists), will be referred toīy the term 'lay knowledge.' Due to the pragmatic character of these concepts, Involved we will refer to 'local knowledge' a more general category, also (e.g., agricultural regulations, waste disposal, energy consumption, fishing policy)Īnd do not hold relevant scientific credentials. Their personal interests (political or otherwise) concerning the problem at stake Those people who have some knowledge in virtue of their direct involvement or Who are those 'corresponding lay believers'? These will be taken as all Makes the difference between lay and expert knowledge: it is the differenceīetween claims held as warranted by the relevant scientific community or by Given social (cultural and historical) context.Īccordingly, it is the cultural variable (within the social context) that This characterization of knowledge, of course, contextualizes knowledgeĪs the claims or assertions which are generally accepted as warranted within a Standpoint, we view this as a network of beliefs enjoying the property of Individually necessary and jointly sufficient for an adequate policy.Ĭoncerning knowledge, adopting a pragmatist (instead of a realist) Garcia et al., 1995.) Thus efficiency and legitimacy will be seen here as (For the relevance of organizational aspects in theĬharacterization of technological or environmental policymaking, see Gonzalez Should still be independently considered given that their relationship is not a (ii) the efficiency of a given policy can bring about its social acceptance, but they Of course, both requirements are causally related in the actual worldīecause (i) a prima facie efficient policy can fail because of social resistance, and Support (e.g., referenda or parliamentary decisions). (See Mitcham, 1994: 225 ff.)Īnd a legitimate policy is a policy that has social support either in theįorm of a positive public perception or in some form of explicit democratic Here in favor of active public participation. Still, emphasizing this point would only render stronger our general argument

There is no such thing as a general or objective way forĪctions or processes to be efficient. We will not enter into the question of the contextual dependence of theĬoncept of efficiency. Resources (cognitive, material, and organizational) in order to fulfill given aims We consider an efficient policy to be one that counts on sufficient What is meant by 'expert or lay knowledge' and by an 'adequate' policyĬoncerning technology or environment-related issues?Īn adequate policy will be understood here as a policy which is both Knowledge play in an adequate management of technology and environment-related issues? The central question of this paper to repeat is: What role should lay Still under development by an interdisciplinary working group within INVESCIT,Ī Spanish interuniversity research center in science and technology studies. This paper is not an elaborated and finished work but a research project

General argument to a case study of forestry policy: the so-called 'eucalyptus In the second part of this paper, we will apply our Or public opinion it should actively involve lay knowledge in order to achieveįirm political legitimacy and a technically efficient policymaking in environment Public participation should not end with a political sensitivity to public perceptions Local knowledge, and the need for political legitimacy, we argue for an active roleįor lay knowledge in technological and environmental policymaking. The basis of the intrinsic limitations of expert knowledge, the potential utility of Play in an adequate managing of technology and environment-related issues? On The aim of this paper is to attempt to answer a key question of current Lopez Cerezo, University of Oviedo and INVESCIT and Marta Gonzalez Garcia, University of Minnesota and INVESCIT LAY KNOWLEDGE AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN TECHNOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Jose A.

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