Title: Risk, genetically modified food and the US/EU divide

Authors: Dave Toke

Addresses: Department of Sociology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

Abstract: The Genetically Modified (GM) food and crops issue illustrates some key contemporary differences between the EU and the USA on environmental issues. These differences have been parallel to the apparently stronger influence of environmentalists since 1990 on a range of issues in the EU, compared to the USA. Beck|s |Risk Society| theory has general resonance with contemporary western attitudes to risk. However, it may be that the US regulatory framework may now be more representative of his |analysis| of archetypal |reflexive modernisation|, while EU policies (on GM food at least) represent more self-critical, precautionary and solutions-oriented |normative| aspects of the thesis.

Keywords: USA; United States; EU; European Union; risk; technology; normative; analytical; green economics; genetically modified food; GM crops; genetic modification; environmental issues; reflexive modernisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2007.013069

International Journal of Green Economics, 2007 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.407 - 418

Published online: 06 Apr 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article