Technical Controversies over Public Policy: From Fluoridation to Fracking and Climate Change

part part I Preliminaries -- chapter 1 THE CONTROVERSY OVER CLIMATE CHANGE -- chapter 2 TECHNICAL CONTROVERSIES MAY BE GOOD, IF THEY END WELL -- part part II The Age of Heroic Engineering and the Age of Technical Controversy -- chapter 3 THE AGE OF HEROIC ENGINEERING -- chapter 4 THE AGE OF TECHNICAL CONTROVERSY -- part Part III Facts in Dispute -- chapter 5 Disputes between Experts -- chapter 6 Separating Disputes over Facts from Disputes over Values -- part Part IV Participants -- chapter 7 Partisans -- chapter 8 Beliefs -- chapter 9 Social Links among Controversies -- part Part V Protest Movements -- chapter 10 Growth of Protest -- chapter 11 Mass Media: Quantity of Coverage Theory -- chapter 12 The Fracking Controversy -- chapter 13 Seriously Science-driven Policy.

The controversy over climate change -- Technical controversies may be good, if they end well -- The age of heroic engineering -- The age of technical controversy -- Disputes between experts -- Separating disputes over facts from disputes over values -- Participants -- Partisans -- Beliefs -- Social links among controversies -- Growth of protest -- Mass media : quantity of coverage theory -- The fracking controversy -- Seriously science-driven policy

"Newspapers and TV often report controversial risk warnings over technological innovations, scientific developments, or environmental hazards that have at their core a dispute between experts who contradict one another not only on preferred policy but also on the scientific facts that underlie decisions about public policy. Recent examples are the disputes about climate change, fracking, vaccination and autism, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Adversaries mobilize constituents with similar interests or ideologies, form opposing coalitions, and compete for media exposure. They articulate arguments and counterarguments. "Facts" become malleable, differently appraised by each side. Uncongenial evidence is ignored or discredited. For many adversaries, winning the policy argument is primary; evaluating the true degree of hazard is secondary. How can we determine which side's "facts" are right and which wrong? Do news media enlighten the public or worsen polarization? Can policymakers deal with controversial science and technology more cogently than they do now?"--Provided by publisher

Cover -- Half title -- Title page -- copyright page -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- part I Preliminaries -- 1. THE CONTROVERSY OVER CLIMATE CHANGE -- The American Case -- Quantity of News Coverage in the United States -- Public Concern in the United States -- International Comparisons -- Discussion -- Notes -- 2. TECHNICAL CONTROVERSIES MAY BE GOOD, IF THEY END WELL -- The X-Ray and Status Lymphaticus -- Proponents Minimize Risks While Opponents Seek Them Out -- How Do Controversies End? -- Ending Ludicrous Controversies -- The Ozone Hole -- Discussion -- part II The Age of Heroic Engineering and the Age of Technical Controversy -- 3. THE AGE OF HEROIC ENGINEERING -- Discussion -- 4. THE AGE OF TECHNICAL CONTROVERSY -- The Postwar Increase in Technical Controversies -- Beginning of Modern Environmentalism -- True Warnings and False Alarms -- Discussion -- Part III Facts in Dispute -- 5. Disputes between Experts -- Nuclear Power and the Fluoridation of Water -- Arguing Past One Another -- Ambiguities -- Rejecting Data -- Alternative Interpretations -- Alignment and Polarization -- Discussion -- 6. Separating Disputes over Facts from Disputes over Values -- My Youthful Adventure with Arthur Kantrowitz in the Science Court -- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- The Surgeon General's 1964 Report on Smoking -- Discussion -- Part IV Participants -- 7. Partisans -- Occupational Activists -- Volunteer Activists -- The General Public -- Discussion -- 8. Beliefs -- Homophily -- Vaccination and Homophily -- Content of Rhetoric -- Discussion -- 9. Social Links among Controversies -- Petition Battles in The New York Times -- Journalistic Linkage -- Discussion -- Part V Protest Movements -- 10. Growth of Protest -- Becoming National News -- Lead, Flint, and Grandfather -- Discussion -- 11. Mass Media -- Vaccines and Autism