Politicized Discourses on Environmental and Technological Risks: the Case of Lithuania

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the scope and depth to which discourses on environmental and technological risks are marked by political domination. Authors explain the reciprocal model of interconnections between 1) environmental and technological risk discourses and 2) such factors as high trust in science and technologies, ascription of responsibilities to political authorities, low civil participation and low rates of trust in civil sector organizations. The article is based upon national media monitoring research, Eurobarometer data, ISSP national survey and several other national opinion polls. The results show the political (and expert) domination of public discourses on environmental and technological risks, as channelled through popular newspapers in Lithuania.

http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ss.74.4.1032