K. Bickerstaff
Risk, responsibility, and blame: analysing vocabularies of motive in air pollution(ing) discourses
Bickerstaff, K.; Walker, G.
Authors
G. Walker
Abstract
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.
Citation
Bickerstaff, K., & Walker, G. (2002). Risk, responsibility, and blame: analysing vocabularies of motive in air pollution(ing) discourses. Environment and Planning A, 34(12), 2175-2192. https://doi.org/10.1068/a3521
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Date | 2002 |
Deposit Date | Nov 7, 2006 |
Journal | Environment and Planning A |
Print ISSN | 0308-518X |
Electronic ISSN | 1472-3409 |
Publisher | SAGE Publications |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 34 |
Issue | 12 |
Pages | 2175-2192 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1068/a3521 |
Keywords | Urban air quality, Vocabularies of motive, Collective risk. |
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