Dryzek- Pages 73-120
Part III: Solving Environmental Problems
-Discourses based on problem solving:
-ecological problems are recognized but can be fixed by societies.
Chapter 4- Leave it to the Experts: Administrative Rationalism
1. Definition: The problem-solving discourse which emphasizes the roles of the expert
rather than the citizen or producer/consumer in social problem solving, and which
stresses social relationships of hierarchy rather than equality or competition.
2. When first introduced, the environmental issues seemed to all be handled similarly in
the developed world
3. Repertoire of Administrative Rationalism
3.1. Professional resource-management bureaucracies:
3.1.1. US, the Conservation Movement: resources being consumed improperly
and should be more efficiently used by humans;
3.1.1.1. Wasn’t interested in preservation, aesthetics or pollution reduction
3.1.1.2. Resource management agencies can be influenced by
government/politics or private industry
3.2. Pollution Control Agencies
3.2.1. International agencies have been developed to control pollution (Britain:
Inspectorate of Pollution, 1987)
3.2.2. Most developed countries developed pollution control agencies by 1970s
3.2.3. US/EPA: Congress micromanaged the EPA so that it would not be
controlled by private sectors, or changed by presidents (Reagan
attempted to dismantle EPA)
3.3. Regulatory Policy Instruments
3.3.1. Regulations: can enforce fines, used of greener equipment, change the
materials used, alter practices
3.3.1.1. Focuses on end product rather than the process
3.3.2. US: Rely heavily on judicial practices to solve problems
3.3.3. Britain: problems need to be proven by science before they can be
addressed
3.4. Environmental Impact Assessment
3.4.1. Governments must fully address environmental impacts before starting
any project; forces more scientific research
3.4.2. US National Environmental Policy Act: not entirely effective and does not
have a set intended effect; legal complications
3.5. Expert Advisory Commissions
3.5.1. US: President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
3.5.1.1. Questionable role and effects
3.5.1.2. Doesn’t get as much power or attention as it should, depending on
the president
3.5.2. Britain: Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
3.5.2.1. Doesn’t change policies unless science says that there is a
immediate problem
3.6. Rationalistic Policy Analysis Techniques
3.6.1. Cost-Benefit analysis
3.6.1.1. Weighs the pros and cons of each situation; puts a value/price on
each pro/con; finally adds up the totals of each side to see which
has more value
3.6.1.2. Has some issues with determining value of items that have no value
in currency
3.6.1.3. Relies heavily on experts and the government
3.6.2. Risk Analysis
3.6.2.1. Looks at the potential hazards that could take effect
3.6.2.2. Tested by animal testing or looking at human populations that are
already being impacted; depends on sample size, not always
efficient
3.6.2.3. Ignores possibility of other impacts or problems
3.6.2.4. Public tends to exaggerate impacts and is better to be examined by
experts
4. Discourse
4.1. Administrative rationalism seeks to organize scientific and technical expertise
into bureaucracy hierarchy in the service of the state.
4.2. Justification
4.2.1. Problems are complex and so problem solving needs to be broken down
into different parts (Offices/departments)
4.3. Crisis
4.3.1. People are skeptical because of bureaucratic association
4.3.2. Power in this discourse, is given to those who know everything; nobody
knows everything
4.3.3. Problem displacement into other countries
4.4. Government/governance
4.4.1. Need government to make it work
Chapter 5- Leave it to the People: Democratic Pragmatism
1. Definition: interactive problem solving within the basic institutional structure of liberal
capitalist democracy
2. In action
2.1. Often proposed as a remedy for the crisis of the administrative rationalism
2.2. Public consultation: the public must see statements by agencies and respond
and edit them; environmental and democratic
2.2.1. Helps to create policy that the whole community is in favor of
2.3. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR
2.3.1. Brings parties together to settle disputes with a mediator present
2.4. Policy Dialogue
2.4.1. The more people talk about environmental issues the more, the are in
favor of helping
2.5. Lay Citizen Deliberation
2.5.1. This includes large conferences that are held,
2.5.2. Involve policy dialogue
2.6. Public inquiries
2.6.1. Forums where many people can discuss/present their own ideas
2.6.2. People become more involved in this way
2.7. Right-to-know Legislation
2.7.1. Corporations must allow all information to be available to the public,
more public knowledge
3. Government and Governance
3.1. All forms of communication are important
3.2. Top down influence, also central influence
3.3. More equality among the people
3.4. Interactive politics: like an ecosystem
3.4.1. Complex structures, each part is important
4. Limits
4.1. Most common in capitalist democracies
4.2. Citizens play important roles and need to be treated as equals
Questions:
In the chapter on Democratic Pragmatism, Dryzek compared this system to and
ecosystem. I thought this was a very interesting point because we have created a
system based around nature. Do you think there are other parts of our government that
could benefit from mirroring nature?
Which do you find more effective?