Princípio da precaução como uma ferramenta estratégica para redesenhar a (sub)política: compreensão e perspectivas da ciência política de língua Francesa

The precautionary principle falls under a decisional context in evolution, marked by a multidimensional uncertainty as for environmental, economic, social, political or ethical consequences of the technological innovations. In French-speaking political science, it is understood as a strategic tool, a political response to the emergence of a new flow of societal uncertainty, mainly directed towards the hesitations of the scientific world. We argue that the precautionary principle redefines the way to manage scientific uncertainty in a society characterized by the blurring of the borders between political and subpolitical actors. Around its application, a line of fracture is drawn, which reduces the decisional breathing space of certain subpolitical entities and/or encourages others to act more. However, we stress that in a world ever more globalised and interconnected, the application of the precautionary principle only has temporary and local effects. Nevertheless, it may contribute to important debates that need to be taken up further in institutional spaces for reflexive anticipatory action and decision-making support