Depoliticizlng technological decisions?

摘要

Novel technologies, such as biotechnology, often have important social and environmental implications, are highly complex, and are characterized by great levels of uncertainty even among experts. Moreover, many disagreements about the merits of noveltechnologies are based on value disagreements. When such ditions are involved, decision-making on the basis of depoliticized debate might be helpful, because its outcomes would be better reflected upon and the promotion of personal interests would be avoided. In response to one particular proposal for depoliticization, that of Philip Pettit, I explore the question if and how depoliticization of decision making about animal and plant biotechnology can be achieved. I have analysed two ways in which the governments of the Netherlands and Australia have tried to do this: politically independent expert committees and lay people consensus conferences. I argue that both exercises serve to exclude certain viewpoints at the risk of leaving groups in society disgruntled and leading to more politicization rather than less. Moreover, the success of consensus conferences is dependent on the political culture - and associated view on political legitimacy - of their host country. Politicization can, therefore, not be avoided. Pettit's proposal is based on a view of politics as a struggle between interest groups and does not sufficiently take into account other views on the function of politics.