Bookannouncement by the editor:

Democratising Technology-Theory and Practice of Deliberative Technology Policy
Edited by Rene von Schomberg, published by the International Centre for Human
and Public Affairs (ICHPA), Hengelo, The Netherlands, 125 pages.
ISBN 90-802139-6-9;   19,90 EURO, order by fax +31-74-2918697

 

Bookdescription:

With this volume a range of international authors contributes to an ongoing debate on the conceptual and practical development

of a deliberative technology policy. Such a technology policy should bring the realm of technological innovation within the scope of

democratic decision making. Deliberative technology policy seeks the right balance between direct public participation which contributes to the legitimacy of the policy process whereas the quality of the policy process should be safeguarded by an appropriate mediation of science and policy by experts.

Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Escaping the iron cage, or, subversive rationalization and democratic
theory
    by Andrew Feenberg (San Diego, State University)
2. Design Criteria and political strategies for democratising technology
    by Richard E. Sclove (Loka Institute)
3   Why the public should participate in technical decision making
    by Carl Mitcham, (Penn State University)
4.Democratizing technology or technologizing democracy- the case of
agricultural
   biotechnology in Europe, by Les Levidow (Open University, England)
5. Environmental research between knowledge and organisation,
    G. Bechmann (Institute for Systems analysis, Karlsruhe, Germany)
6. Technology Assessment in a deliberative perspective
    by Ole Brekke and E. Erikson (Bergen, Norway)