Toward Institutionalizing Participatory Technology

Assessment in Japan 4 Feb. 2004

Yukio Wakamatsu College of Science & Engineering

Tokyo Denki University Hatoyama, Saitama 350-0394 Japan

e-mail:wakamats@i.dendai.ac.jp

Content My standpoint, and some reflections on pTA Pre-history of pTA in Japan Japanese experiences of participatory TA meth

ods 3 consensus conferences (1998, 99, 2000) 1 Scenario Workshop (2003)

“Game-ness” of the consensus conference method as a background for its “robustness”

Issues of designing pTA methods A Perspective of pTA in Japan

My Standpoint, and a reflection on pTA

As a practitioner & an advocate of pTA as well as a researcher

TA/pTA should be institutionalized As a necessary complement of indirect or r

epresentative democracy

Pre-history of pTA in Japan

Failure to introduce TA A New National Goal - Recognition

of the Need for “Participation” Trends toward public participation

Failure to introduce TA

1969: Introduction of TA concept into Japan 1971:TA concept introduced in a policy paper

– Science & Technology Council, Report No.5 Fall 1973: Oil Crisis In the late 1970’s, enthusiasm faded away Environmental Assessment

From municipalities’ effort(1980’s) to the national law(1997)

A New National Goal - Recognition of the Need

for Participation” In the early 1990’s: A search for a

national goal = Nation building through the promotion of science and technology

In 1995: the Science and Technology Basic Law; followed by Basic Plans (1996-2000, 2001-2005)

Trends toward public

participation “Public comment” system in 1999 “Public involvement” procedure (road con

struction & river management) Public participation widely observed in lo

cal & regional scenes Research programs such as “social tech

nology” program Academic society: JASTS estab. in 2001

Japanese Experiences of participatory TA

methods(1) 3 consensus conferences

1st trial: Gene therapy; 1998; Toyota Foundation & Nissan Science Foundation

2nd trial: High information society, esp. the internet; 1998; Nissan Science Foundation & Tokyo Denki University

Genetically modified crops; 2000; STAFF (Min. of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries)

Japanese Experiences of participatory TA

methods(2) A trial Scenario Workshop (May, 2003) Theme: The future of the Sanbanze shall

ow sea area and surrounding cities Organizer: a research project (sponsored

by RISTEX, Japan Science and Technology Agency)

Supported by Chiba Prefecture and the Round Table Committee

“Game-ness” of the consensus conference

as a background for its “robustness”

firmly constructed to be applied in wider contexts = robustness

supported and/or explained by its “game-ness” (game-like quality)

Applied in a particular culture, using available resources

The scenario workshop method?

Issues of designing pTA methods

How far we could/should intervene the workshop process?

The use of “script” in Danish & the US Lowell SW

Any pTA method has a limitation; time, resources etc.( facilitators’ skill)

Participants shouldn’t be assumed as experienced in a workshop-type activity

A Perspective of pTA in Japan

Over-expectations on pTA methods Importance of distinguishing between t

he pTA methods and the pTA forum A rough image of the pTA forum (or ins

titutionalization) in Japan Outside the government Relevant actors Impact on policy-making = a matter of pol

itical discussions