Separated at birth? Consensus and contention in the UK agriculture and human biotechnology commissions

Jones, M., Walls, J. and Horlick-Jones, T. (2006) Separated at birth? Consensus and contention in the UK agriculture and human biotechnology commissions. Science and Public Policy, 33(10), pp. 729-744. (doi: 10.3152/147154306781778560)

Abstract

In 1999, the UK Government responded to escalating tensions surrounding biotechnology governance by creating two strategic, non-statutory advisory bodies: the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) and the Human Genetics Commission (HGC). They were designed to represent diverse stakeholder perspectives, operate transparently and engage with a variety of interested individuals and groups. This was a shift in meta-governance involving the creation of boundary organisations, discipline-bridging instruments of governance that serve to stabilise, clarify and legitimise policy advice. This paper has two main objectives: to conduct a comparative exploration of the relative success of HGC and AEBC as boundary organisations; and to test the utility of an analysis of public meeting transcripts, supplemented by interview data, in identifying factors contributing to consensus and contention in these twin Commissions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Walls, Dr John
• Authors: Jones, M., Walls, J., and Horlick-Jones, T.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Journal Name: Science and Public Policy
• ISSN: 0302-3427
• ISSN (Online): 1471-5430