Title: Risk as narrative value: a theoretical framework for facilitating the biotechnology debate

Authors: Melissa L. Finucane, Theresa A. Satterfield

Addresses: Center for Health Research, Hawai'i, Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i, USA. ' Institute for Resources, the Environment, and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Canada

Abstract: Maintaining the global public good character of agricultural biotechnology requires the blending of many different values. Sometimes, however, there are large gaps between the values held by different stakeholder groups. Furthermore, there is a contradiction between what people say they value, and how they actually behave. Articulating and overcoming gaps and contradictions is key to reducing polarisation in risk deliberations. This paper presents a theoretical framework for understanding risk as value, and narrative as a tool for facilitating the global biotechnology debate.

Keywords: narrative values; risk perception; affect; emotion; genetic engineering; socio-cultural theory; policy; morality; agricultural biotechnology; GM debate; genetic modification; risk management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2005.006450

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2005 Vol.7 No.1/2/3, pp.128 - 146

Published online: 10 Mar 2005 *

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