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 Participation
Rationale
Role
of Experts
Democracy
vs Technocracy
Decisions
as Technical
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Opposition to
Participation
Levels
of Participation
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Impact Assmt
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Why don't some experts like
participation?
 Self-Identity
- status and influence of experts
are based on recognition that they have special
knowledge and expertise and they may be reluctant to
acknowledge that the public is able to contribute
- they may see themselves as
superior at problem solving and
decision-making
- they may see themselves as more
precise, accurate, practical than ordinary
people
- they may view decisions as an
objective weighing of facts, costs and benefits rather
than a political exercise
View
of Public
- public viewed as ill-informed and
irrational, wideranging views
- public don't appreciate processes
of science and technology
Trade-offs
- experts are granted privileged
position, financial rewards, influence in return for
anonymity, confidentiality, loyalty and therefore they
are unable to take part in a public debate
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