A Consideration on the Formation Process and Social Meaning of Consensus Conferences

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  • KIBA Takao
    文部科学省 科学技術政策研究所 第二調査研究グループ

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  • コンセンサス会議の成立過程及びその意義に関する考察
  • 投稿論文 コンセンサス会議の成立過程及びその意義に関する考察
  • トウコウ ロンブン コンセンサス カイギ ノ セイリツ カテイ オヨビ ソノ イギ ニ カンスル コウサツ

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Abstract

In recent years, problems related to science, technology and society, such as genetic engineering and the greenhouse effect, have become more complex. These problems cannot be easily solved by scientists, engineers, and government alone. Greater participation of the general public in decision making is needed. A new decision making system called consensus conferences is attracting public attention as a means to facilitate input from citizens. In this article, first, I present an outline of consensus conferences. Then I argue that the consensus conference is a developed type of technology assessment that has emerged as a means of overcoming the paternalistic policymaking process and to obtain the ideal consensus. Second, such expectations derive from inadequate theoretical examination of the consensus conference. In fact, the consensus conference should be interpreted more as a democratic visualization of the problem than as a tool for building consensus. Evidences supporting this argument are obtained by examining consensus conferences actually held in Japan.

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