Journal Articles

Explaining Transatlantic Policy Divergence: The Role of Domestic Politics and Policy Styles in Nanotechnology Risk Regulation

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In this study, we seek to explain a growing divergence between the US and EU regulatory policies over nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety risks. Faced with significant scientific and regulatory uncertainties, incremental approaches have been taken in both regulatory systems, but substantial differences are evident in terms of both policy processes and stringency. While the EU exhibits a regulatory integration process with stringent adjustments of existing legislative frameworks, the US is far less engaged in regulatory adaptations. We have carried out a comparative analysis of the EU and US regulatory policies. We suggest that literature perspectives that focus on differing public attitudes, economic interests, and advocacy pressure groups do not suffice to explain the regulatory policy divergence. We argue that a combined effect of domestic politics and policy styles provides the most powerful explanation of why the US and EU currently differ with respect to their regulatory responses to nanotechnology risks and uncertainties.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Global Environmental Politics

Call Number

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Publisher

Cambridge : The MIT Press., 2016

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

1526-3800

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Volume 16, Number 1, February 2016, p. 79–98.

Subject(s)

environmental
nano technology
regulatory system

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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