Resistance To New Technology: Nuclear Power, Information Technology And Biotechnology

This book compares resistance to technology across time, nations and technologies. Three post-war technologies - nuclear power, information technology and biotechnology - are used in the analysis. The focus is on post-1945 Europe, with comparisons made with the USA, Japan and Australia. Instead of assuming that resistance contributes to the failure of a technology, the main thesis of this book is that resistance is a constructive force in technological development, giving technology its particular shape in a particular context. Whilst many people still believe in science and technology, many have become more sceptical of the allied 'progress'. By exploring the idea that modernity creates effects that undermine its own foundations, forms and effects of resistance are explored in various contexts. The book presents a unique interdisciplinary study, including contributions from historians, sociologists, psychologists and political scientists. Resistance to new technology Resistance to new technology nuclear power information technology and biotechnology edited by MARTIN BAUER The National Museum W i g R T o f Science & Industry Science Museum 31 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE The Pitt Building. Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RP, United Kingdom CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, United Kingdom 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA 10 Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia © Cambridge University Press 1995 This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 1995 First paperback edition (with corrections) 1997 Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge Typeset in Monotype Photina ll/14pt A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Resistance to new technology: nuclear power, information technology and biotechnology/edited by Martin Bauer. p. cm. Papers from a three-day conference held at the Science Museum, London, 5-7 April 1993. Includes index. ISBN 0 521 45518 9 (hardback) 1. Technology assessment - Congresses. 2. Technology assessment Europe - Congresses. 3. Nuclear energy - Social aspects - Congresses. 4. Information technology - Social aspects - Congresses. 5. Biotechnology - Social aspects - Congresses. I. Bauer, Martin. T174.5.R48 1995 303.48'3-dc20 94-26745 CIP ISBN 0 521 45518 9 hardback ISBN 0 521 59948 2 paperback Contents Contributors page x i Preface xiii -1Resistance to new technology and its effects on nuclear power, information technology and biotechnology MARTIN BAUER PART I 1 Conceptual