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Constructing Responsibilities for Risk: Negotiating Citizen — State Relationships

Author

Listed:
  • Karen Bickerstaff

    (Department of Geography, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, England)

  • Peter Simmons

    (Centre for Environmental Risk, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, England)

  • Nick Pidgeon

    (School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales)

Abstract

The paper examines the ways in which citizens negotiate responsibility in relation to various environmental and technological risks. It focuses on the role of agency and the way that this figures in constructions of relations of responsibility between individuals and institutions. A central argument is that, across the different issue contexts, patterns of perceived agency are crucial to understanding the apparent contradiction in citizens' attributions of role-responsibilities for the management of risk. The empirical basis of the paper is a series of twelve reconvened focus groups conducted at locations around England, giving a total of twenty-four meetings, in which citizens discussed six different areas of technological risk: genetically modified (GM) crops, genetic testing, mobile-phone handsets; mobile-phone masts; radioactive waste; and climate change. The authors highlight the problem of citizen ambivalence towards responsibility, tracing it to perceived tensions affecting both citizen and state performances of responsibility, and conclude by discussing the implications for policy and by outlining an agenda for further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Bickerstaff & Peter Simmons & Nick Pidgeon, 2008. "Constructing Responsibilities for Risk: Negotiating Citizen — State Relationships," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 40(6), pages 1312-1330, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:40:y:2008:i:6:p:1312-1330
    DOI: 10.1068/a39150
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rachel Slocum, 2004. "Consumer Citizens and the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(5), pages 763-782, May.
    2. Sheila Jasanoff, 2004. "Science and citizenship: a new synergy," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 31(2), pages 90-94, April.
    3. Judith Petts, 2005. "Health, Responsibility, and Choice: Contrasting Negotiations of Air Pollution and Immunisation Information," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 37(5), pages 791-804, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mah, Daphne Ngar-yin & van der Vleuten, Johannes Marinus & Hills, Peter & Tao, Julia, 2012. "Consumer perceptions of smart grid development: Results of a Hong Kong survey and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 204-216.
    2. Peng Cheng & Jiuchang Wei & Yue Ge, 2017. "Who should be blamed? The attribution of responsibility for a city smog event in China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 85(2), pages 669-689, January.
    3. Evensen, Darrick & Demski, Christina & Becker, Sarah & Pidgeon, Nick, 2018. "The relationship between justice and acceptance of energy transition costs in the UK," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 451-459.
    4. Dickinson, Janet E. & Robbins, Derek & Lumsdon, Les, 2010. "Holiday travel discourses and climate change," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 482-489.
    5. Hares, Andrew & Dickinson, Janet & Wilkes, Keith, 2010. "Climate change and the air travel decisions of UK tourists," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 466-473.
    6. Sarah Becker & Paul Sparks, 2018. "Talking about Climate Change Mitigation: People’s Views on Different Levels of Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-18, April.

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