Managing uncertainty
The controversy over genetic engineering in Europe and its influence on regulation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52712/issn.1850-0013-1048Keywords:
technology regulation, genetic engineering, policy decision making, social controversyAbstract
This article presents the results of a recent research project on the regulation and the social debate in Spain and the European Union in the area of genetically modified organisms, an important technology in the field of genetic engineering. The results show the way in which the different social actors attained decisive influence on decision making in the regulatory process of this technology. The conflict between the actors left its mark on the development of the technology and its markets. It could be observed how underlying world visions about the role of technology in modern society guided the actors’ opinions and actions which points to the fundamental difficulties of solving the conflicts in relation the modern technology. Even a more participatory decision making process would have to face those limitations.
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