Risk, responsibility, and blame: an analysis of vocabularies of motive in air-pollution(ing) discourses

被引:60
作者
Bickerstaff, K [1 ]
Walker, G
机构
[1] Univ E Anglia, Dept Environm Sci, Norwich NR4 7TJ, Norfolk, England
[2] Staffordshire Univ, Dept Geog, Stoke On Trent ST4 2DE, Staffs, England
来源
ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING A-ECONOMY AND SPACE | 2002年 / 34卷 / 12期
关键词
D O I
10.1068/a3521
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
In this paper we analyse the reasonings that people deploy in explaining and rationalising their behaviour in relation to the collective environmental and health-risk problem of urban air quality. We draw on an empirical study of public perceptions of air pollution to identify a range of,vocabularies of motive' or discourses that serve to move responsibility to act away from the individual and onto other groups. We consider how far each of these 'vocabularies' can be interpreted as a mode of blaming, and draw conclusions linking our analysis to wider relational and moral tensions. Our analysis suggests that blame, although conceptually powerful, falters under empirical scrutiny. On this basis we argue for a more sensitive reading of responsibility discourses in academic debate and enquiry. Conclusions and policy implications are developed, linking our interpretation to the (confrontation of) wider relational and moral tensions, which characterise collective-risk situations.
引用
收藏
页码:2175 / 2192
页数:18
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