The privatization of public talk: a New Zealand case study on the use of dialogue for civic engagement in biotechnology governance
Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: The highly politicized genetic engineering debate in New Zealand in 1998–2002 led to a government-funded trial of “dialogue” communication methods to improve relations between “science and society”.Footnote1 Significant breakthroughs were achieved in reducing conflict, identifying common ground, and articulating social values and preferences for future science and technology. While “dialogue” was initially recognized as a deliberative practice with potential for shaping science policy, government attention became focused on enhancing scientists' communication skills in their interactions with relevant communities. As a result, “dialogue” was more easily embraced as a strategy for managing relationships with local publics, than as a mechanism for public input to science and technology decision-making at the national level. “Dialogue” had the potential to open up new platforms for civic engagement in biotechnology governance, but was discursively reconstructed, reducing the influence of citizen concerns in governance of the life sciences.
Source: New Genetics and Society
Author: Karen Cronin
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2087967427