Articles liés à Cellular Phones, Public Fears, and a Culture of Precaution

Cellular Phones, Public Fears, and a Culture of Precaution - Couverture rigide

Burgess, Adam

 
9780521817592: Cellular Phones, Public Fears, and a Culture of Precaution
Couverture rigide
ISBN 10 : 0521817595 ISBN 13 : 9780521817592
Editeur : Cambridge University Press, 2003

Synopsis

This is the first account of the health panic surrounding cellular phones that developed in the mid-1990s. Treating the issue as more 'social construction' than evident scientific problem, it tells the story of how this originally American anxiety diffused internationally, having an even bigger impact in countries such as Italy. Burgess highlights the contrasting reactions to the issue ranging from positive indifference in Finland to those such as the UK where precautionary measures were taken. These differences are located within the emergence of a precautionary culture driven by institutional insecurity that first appeared in the US and is now most evident in Europe. Anxieties about cell phone radiowaves are also situated historically in the very different reactions to technologies such as x-rays and in the more similar 'microwave suspicions' about television. In addition, Burgess outlines a history and sociology of what is, despite media-driven anxieties, a spectacularly successful device.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

This is the first account of the health panic surrounding cellular phones that developed in the mid-1990s. Treating the issue as more 'social construction' than evident scientific problem, it tells the story of how this originally American anxiety diffused internationally, having an even bigger impact in countries such as Italy. Burgess highlights the contrasting reactions to the issue ranging from positive indifference in Finland to those such as the UK where precautionary measures were taken. These differences are located within the emergence of a precautionary culture driven by institutional insecurity that first appeared in the US and is now most evident in Europe. Anxieties about cell phone radiowaves are also situated historically in the very different reactions to technologies such as x-rays and in the more similar 'microwave suspicions' about television. In addition, Burgess outlines a history and sociology of what is, despite media-driven anxieties, a spectacularly successful device.

Revue de presse

'Adam Burgess's fascinating and frequently polemical book highlights the perils of precautionary thinking.' The Lancet

'Burgess' book remains a salutary lesson in the social construction of fears, which will undoubtedly be used to inform similar episodes in the years ahead.' Spiked

'I found it thought-provoking and can strongly recommend it as a fascinating study of the interaction between science and society.' Tony Barker, consultant clinical scientist at Royal Hallamshire Hospital and chairman of the IEE's Policy Advisory Group on Biological Effects of Low-level Electromagnetic Fields

'... Burgess's study of mobile phones contains a general and worrying message of small or non-existent risk being emphasised to advance social policy and influence the direction of scientific research.' The British Medical Journal

'... Adam Burgess' important book is the first major work to examine the history and dynamics of the scare.' New Media and Society

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Cambridge University Press
Date d'édition
2003
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0521817595
ISBN 13 
9780521817592
Reliure
Relié
Nombre de pages
312
Coordonnées du fabricant
Cambridge University Press
https://www.cambridge.org/

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