Science and Citizens: Globalization and the Challenge of Engagement (Claiming Citizenship) - Softcover

Melissa Leach, Ian Scoones And Brian Wynne (ed)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1842775510 ISBN 13: 9781842775516

Publisher: Zed Books, 2005

Synopsis

Rapid advances and new technologies in the life sciences - such as biotechnologies in health, agricultural and environmental arenas - pose a range of pressing challenges to questions of citizenship. This volume brings together for the first time authors from diverse experiences and analytical traditions, encouraging a conversation between science and technology and development studies around issues of science, citizenship and globalisation. It reflects on the nature of expertise; the framing of knowledge; processes of public engagement; and issues of rights, justice and democracy. A wide variety of pressing issues is explored, such as medical genetics, agricultural biotechnology, occupational health and HIV/AIDS. Drawing upon rich case studies from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, Science and Citizens asks: · Do new perspectives on science, expertise and citizenship emerge from comparing cases across different issues and settings? · What difference does globalisation make? · What does this tell us about approaches to risk, regulation and public participation? · How might the notion of ‘cognitive justice‘ help to further debate and practice?

About this title

Review:

'The global scope of the case-studies, and of its theoretical and normative perspectives is particularly novel and a uniquely valuable contribution to some of the world's most pressing issues.' Ulrich Beck, University of Munich 'This volume is a unique blend of two, hitherto separate, streams of work - science and technology studies and development studies.' Steve Rayner, University of Oxford 'The overall admirable aim of the book, consisting of provocative and well-written essays, is to bring together modern work in science studies and disciplines devoted to investigating global and national development.' Christopher Lawrence, UCL 'Makes a major contribution to debates about the relationship between science and society.' Bulletin of the Food Ethics Council '[Highlighting] the politics in science and how science has in the past been used by the establishment to consolidate its power...the book is an example of what a genuine ideological and intellectual commitment to the philosophy of participation can produce.' Development and Change

Synopsis:

Rapid changes in science and technology present challenges to questions of citizenship. This book encourages conversation between science and technology and development studies around issues of science, citizenship and globalisation. Contributors from diverse experiences and analytical traditions reflect on the nature of expertise; the framing of knowledge; processes of public engagement; and issues of rights, justice and democracy. Case studies cover issues ranging from medical genetics, agricultural biotechnology, occupational health and HIV/AIDS in settings as varied as rural Sierra Leone, urban Britain, China, South Africa, India and Brazil. The contributors set out an agenda for analysis and action around confronting mainstream scientific and technical cultures, creating new forms of knowledge-network, and enhancing democratic global citizenship.

About this edition

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1842775510
• ISBN 13: 9781842775516
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304