University of Texas at Arlington UTA.EDU

Technical Issues and Engagement Processes: Support for Citizen and Expert Deliberation Regarding the Management of Nuclear Waste

Justin Reedy, Chris Anderson, and Matthew C. Nowlin

2023 · Frontiers in Communication, 8

Publisher’s Version
Cite
@article{reedy2023technical,
  title = {Technical Issues and Engagement Processes: Support for Citizen and Expert Deliberation Regarding the Management of Nuclear Waste},
  author = {Justin Reedy and Chris Anderson and Matthew C. Nowlin},
  year = {2023},
  journal = {Frontiers in Communication, 8},
  doi = {10.3389/fcomm.2023.1237736},
  url = {https://matthewcnowlin.com/publication/technical-issues-and-engagement-processes/}
}

Abstract

Deliberative forums have been increasingly used to involve citizens in policymaking, but it is unclear whether people trust their fellow citizens to make decisions in highly technical areas like nuclear policy relative to more commonly used expert bodies. We examine public support for citizen and expert deliberation regarding the siting of nuclear waste facilities and note the role of values, views on deliberation, and civic experiences on support for each type of deliberation. We find that past civic experiences are associated with increased support for citizen decision-making. In addition, we find that underlying views on nuclear power may be more important in shaping support for a decision on nuclear waste facility siting than attitudes toward particular kinds of governance processes.

See Also