Mediating science-intensive policy disputes

Public policy disputes involving complex scientific issues usually entail conflicts not only over those scientific issues, but also over the distribution of gains and losses. The presence of scientific or technical dimensions to a dispute should not be allowed to mask underlying distributional consi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of policy analysis and management 1985-10, Vol.5 (1), p.23-39
Main Authors: Ozawa, Connie P., Susskind, Lawrence
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ARBITRATION
Chlorides
Conflict
DECISION-MAKING AND GAME THEORY
Dispute settlement
Emissions regulations
Environmental agencies
Environmental aspects
Environmental law
Environmental policy
Lead
Mediation
New York, New York
ORGANIZED COLLECTIVE ARGUMENT
Political debate
Political parties
Public policy
Refuse incinerators
Science
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Science Policy
United States
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Summary:Public policy disputes involving complex scientific issues usually entail conflicts not only over those scientific issues, but also over the distribution of gains and losses. The presence of scientific or technical dimensions to a dispute should not be allowed to mask underlying distributional considerations. On the other hand, science-intensive disputes require special attention. Merely resolving distributional conflicts without incorporating the best scientific judgment will produce unwise and potentially dangerous results. The usual adversarial approach that characterizes the handling of such disputes by agencies and courts is less for creating an understanding of scientific evidence or the resolution of scientific differences. A process of mediation, already applied in a number of significant cases, offers strong promise as a superior approach.
ISSN:0276-8739
1520-6688
DOI:10.1002/pam.4050050102