Josep Espluga

Investigating the degree of “stigma” associated with nuclear energy technologies: A cross-cultural examination of the case of fusion power

The extent to which nuclear energy technologies are, in some sense, “stigmatised” by historical environmental and military associations is of particular interest in contemporary debates about sustainable energy policy. Recent claims in the literature suggest that despite such stigmatisation, lay views on such technologies may be shifting towards a “reluctant acceptance,” in the light of concerns about issues like anthropogenic climate change. In this paper, we report on research into learning and reasoning processes concerned with a largely unknown nuclear energy technology; namely fusion power. We focus on the role of the nuclear label, or “brand,” in informing how lay citizens make sense of the nature of this technology. Our findings derive from a comparative analysis of data generated in Spain and Britain, using the same methodology.

Institutional dimensions underlying public trust in information on technological risk

This paper examines the determinants of trust in public information on technological risk in a petrochemical complex located in Tarragona (Spain). Data from focus groups (eight) and a questionnaire survey (N = 400) are drawn together to analyse how two local communities exposed to major chemical hazards perceive information on risk and its sources. Results show how trust relies on two main factors, namely expertise and trustworthiness, that are significantly influenced by a third one, antagonism. Results also illustrate the relevance of the institutional context when understanding how communities give meaning to the available information on risk.

The siting of a research centre on clean coal combustion and CO 2 capture in Spain: Some notes on the relationship between trust and lack of public information

This paper aims to gain a better understanding of the role played by trust in the context of scarcity of public information, vis‐à‐vis the installation of a Centre for Investigation in Advanced Technologies (Centro de Investigación de Tecnologías Avanzadas, CITA) to be located in a coal‐rich region of Spain. Data from semi‐structured interviews (n = 15), a questionnaire survey (n = 400) and focus group sessions (2) are drawn together to reveal how the local community perceives the proposed CITA scheme, and how this relates to the level of trust placed in the project promoters. Results illustrate how a lay community gives meaning to an unknown technological project, trying to place it within its appropriate economic, social and political context, and relating it to prior knowledge and experiences. Results also show that, in contrast to certain risk communication theories, the public is able to place trust in a technological activity and their promoters despite a general lack of knowledge on either.

El papel de la confianza en los conflictos socioambientales

Social research on risk has shown that its possible effects on human health or the environment are not the main cause underlying social opposition towards a technology. Moreover, three decades of risk research have led to a unanimous agreement that social conflicts are mainly due to the relationship between the population at risk and risk managers and regulators. Thus, trust is a crucial element in the social response to a technological risk. This paper reviews various theoretical approaches to the concept of “trust” in the context of technological risk management. Next, it includes an analysis of four case studies on technological risks perception. The main goal is to investigate in each of them the different dimensions of trust identified in the literature. Results highlight the need to consider the different risk singularities and social contexts when addressing trust building processes, and underline the significance of trust for a suitable management of technological risks.

Relaciones entre la salud, el desempleo de larga duración y la exclusión social de los jóvenes en España

En el articulo se describen algunas relaciones del desempleo con posibles situaciones de exclusion social en Espana, con especial atencion a los efectos sobre su salud. Para ello se realiza una propuesta teorica de definicion de la exclusion social, entendida como un fenomeno vinculado a las crisis de empleo contemporaneas, y se presenta una sintesis de los resultados de una investigacion empirica realizada a una muestra cualitativa de jovenes espanoles/as que llevan mas de un ano en situacion de desempleo. Se analizan sus experiencias personales, sus percepciones sobre su propia salud, los factores que les protegen de la exclusion social y aquellos que les tornan mas vulnerables. Finalmente, se hace una valoracion critica de las intervenciones que diversos tipos de instituciones ponen en practica con el objetivo de resolver los problemas de exclusion social asociados al desempleo juvenil. Entre los resultados cabe destacar el ambiguo rol de la familia y las limitaciones de las acciones meramente formativas.

Farmer and Veterinarian Attitudes towards the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme in Spain: What Is Going on in the Field?

The effectiveness of health interventions against bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is influenced by several “non-biological” factors that may hamper bTB detection and control. Although the engagement of stakeholders is a key factor for the eradication programme’s success, social factors have been often ignored in the control programmes of animal diseases, especially in developed countries. In this study, we used a qualitative approach to investigate perceptions, opinions, attitudes, and beliefs of farmers, and veterinarians who may influence the effectiveness of the Spanish bTB eradication programme. The study was carried out in two phases. First, 13 key representatives of different groups involved in the programme were interviewed through exploratory interviews to identify most relevant themes circulating in the population. Interviews focused on strong and weak points of the programme; reasons for failure to achieve eradication; benefits of being disease free; future perspectives, and proposed changes to the programme. Based on these results, a thematic guide was developed and detailed information was gained through face-to-face in-depth interviews conducted on a purposive sample of 39 farmers and veterinarians. Data were analysed following an ethnographic methodology. Main results suggested that the bTB programme is perceived as a law enforcement duty without an adequate motivation of some stakeholders and a general feeling of distrust arose. The complexity of bTB epidemiology combined with gaps in knowledge and weak communication throughout stakeholders contributed to causing disbeliefs, which in turn generated different kinds of guesses and interpretations. Low reliability in the routine skin test for bTB screening was expressed and the level of confidence on test results interpretation was linked with skills and experience of public and private veterinarians in the field. Lack of training for farmers and pressure faced by veterinarians during field activities also emerged. Few benefits of being bTB free were perceived and comparative grievances referred to wildlife and other domestic reservoirs, sector-specific legislation for bullfighting farms, and the absence of specific health legislation for game hunting farms were reported. Understanding reasons for demotivation and scepticism may help institutions to ensure stakeholders’ collaboration and increase the acceptability of control measures leading to an earlier achievement of eradication.

Empirical analysis of the risk of social exclusion of long-term unemployed young people in Spain

Since Spain joined the European Union, the industrial sector has undergone serious restructuring which has reduced it considerably. The agricultural sector has been affected by the application of technology and the globalisation of commercial relations, which has drastically reduced the number of people employed in this sector. The restructuring of the production system which has taken place in Spain over the past two decades has meant that the service sector is the predominant sector of economic activities, with many more people employed in it than in the secondary and primary sectors. The service sector in Spain is characterised, in general, by poor, temporary-seasonal employees formed by groups who are discriminated against in terms of salary (women, young people, etc.). This means that there is a growing number of young people who perform labour activities for short, rotational periods between situations of unemployment, without managing to escape from this vicious circle due to their poor qualifications despite their work experience.

GOBERNANZA DELIBERATIVA EN LA GESTIÓN DE CUENCAS HIDROGRÁFICAS: ANALIZANDO LAS CONSECUENCIAS DE LA DIRECTIVA MARCO DEL AGUA EN CATALUÑA

Deliberative governance on river basin management planning: analysing the consequences of the Water Framework Directive in Catalonia. The first river basin management plans under the Water Framework Directive have been adopted in Spain recently. For thus, there are no studies evaluating the results of the participatory processes carried out. This article discusses a participatory experience that has been considered a good practice: the deliberative process of River Basin Management planning in Catalonia. We are interested on the consequences of deliberation and, more specifically, we want to know if a good deliberative process improves water policy. Drawing upon quantitative and qualitative data obtained from documentary analysis and thirty interviews, we investigate the relationship between the procedural features of deliberation and its results. The limitations of the communication strategy, the lack of comprehensiveness with which water policy planning has been made and the lack of a deliberative political culture are some of the weaknesses identified in the case study. We conclude that a good deliberative process is a necessary but not a sufficient requierement to ensure a significant impact on water policy.

Youth Unemployment and Social Exclusion in Spain

The definitions of unemployment vary according to the different socio-political contexts, therefore, unemployment rates are not easily comparable. The wide extent of unemployment has generated considerable interest in measuring it, and unemployment statistics have become a central piece in the game of politics. It should be remembered that national unemployment compatibilities are not neutral instruments, but the result of a social process of data production. In Spain, there are two major official sources of data in this regard: the Employment Statistics, published monthly by the Instituto Nacional de Empleo (National Employment Institute, INEM), and the Encuesta de Poblacion Activa (Active Population Survey, EPA), published quarterly by the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (National Institute of Statistics, INE). These two sources use different definitions of unemployment which, furthermore, have changed over time, thus making a reading of the data and an understanding of the phenomenon more difficult.

Youth Unemployment and Health in Spain

In Spain, the past three decades have seen several periods of recession and economic recovery, and the strong influence of these recessions on the development of employment and unemployment as well as on the overall composition of the labour market are clearly visible.