Creative Democracy: Systematic Conflict Resolution and Policymaking in a World of High Science and Technology

(Hardback)

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Description

Radical new technologies are developing in Western societies at ever-increasing rates but contemporary democracies often lack the appropriate organizational forms to confront these developments. This book discusses the failure of politicians and democratic institutions to cope with modern challenges and proposes a specific strategy to address these problems in contemporary society. It begins with a discussion of technology and science in a societal context. It clarifies the difficult relationship between scientific expertise and politics. The authors propose new strategies to increase public awareness of, and democratic control over, major technological developments. The authors explain the advantage of democratic discourse and consensus formation over voting, and insist that scientists must work with politicians to formulate and articulate their alternative futures for major technological developments.

Author Bio

TOM R. BURNS is Professor of Sociology at The University of Uppsala, Sweden, and Clarence J. Robinson Professor at George Mason University. He is also program co-director, Social Science Theory and Methodology Program, the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences. REINHARD UEBERHORST has been a member of the German Parliament and the West Berlin Parliament. He served as chairman of the German Parliamentary Commission on Future Nuclear Energy Policy. At present he is a member of the Parliamentary Commission of Enquiry, Technology Assessment and is a member of the Social Democractic Party's Commission on Basic Values. He writes on current issues and runs a policy consulting office in Germany.