Questioning "Participation": A Critical Appraisal of its Conceptualization in a Flemish Participatory Technology Assessment

Van Oudheusden, Michiel

doi:10.1007/s11948-011-9313-z

Article (Scientific journals)

Questioning "Participation": A Critical Appraisal of its Conceptualization in a Flemish Participatory Technology Assessment

Van Oudheusden, Michiel

2011 • In Science and Engineering Ethics, 17 (4), p. 673-690

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/127938

DOI
10.1007/s11948-011-9313-z

PubMed
21952725

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Keywords :

Nanotechnologies; Participatory Technology Assessment; Power

Abstract :

[en] This article draws attention to struggles inherent in discourse about the meaning of participation in a Flemish participatory technology assessment (pTA) on nanotechnologies. It explores how, at the project’s outset, key actors (e.g., nanotechnologists and pTA researchers) frame elements of the process like ‘the public’ and draw on interpretive repertoires to fit their perspective. The examples call into question normative commitments to cooperation, consensus building, and common action that conventionally guide pTA approaches. It is argued that pTA itself must reflect an awareness of competing interests and perspectives inherent in the discourse associated with the meaning of ‘participation’ if it is to incite action beyond vested interests and ensure genuine mutual learning.

Research Center/Unit :

Universiteit Antwerpen

Disciplines :

Sociology & social sciences

Author, co-author :

Van Oudheusden, Michiel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de science politique > Anal. et éval. des politiques publ.-Méthod. de sc. politique

Language :

English

Title :

Questioning "Participation": A Critical Appraisal of its Conceptualization in a Flemish Participatory Technology Assessment

Publication date :

2011

Journal title :

Science and Engineering Ethics

ISSN :

1353-3452

eISSN :

1471-5546

Publisher :

Opragen Publications

Special issue title :

Public Science and Technology Scholars: Engaging Whom?

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

673-690

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

http://www.springerlink.com/content/1353-3452/?MUD=MP&k=van+oudheusden

Funders :

FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen

Available on ORBi :

since 25 July 2012

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