The Pragmatic Collective Interest as the Product of Civic Deliberation: The Case of Pesticide Management in Belgium

François Mélard,Marc Mormont

doi:10.3390/su5052233

Abstract

Through the issue of pesticide management in Belgium, this article offers an empirical and conceptual grasp on what Ulrich Beck called the second-order reflexive modernity; that which is exercised among citizens when they are confronted with threatening and uncertain situations. To achieve this, we use two case studies of two public policy instruments, which we offer to the public for discussion: food product labelling, and the modelling of toxic effects linked to pesticide use. To this end, we organised two focus groups designed to encourage discussion, composed of citizens/practitioners. The results obtained plead in favour of a collective deconstruction-reconstruction of these tools and can lead to what we propose calling a “pragmatic collective interest.” This “pragmatic collective interest” can take the form of a new set-up or new associations that enable the coexistence of conflicting propositions and points of view, and a suspension of efforts to hierarchize causes and required solutions.

Highlights

This article aims to highlight original proposals made by citizens/practitioners when engaged in a participatory set-up with a deliberative orientation.We conceive of these as the expression of what we have chosen to call a ―pragmatic collective interest‖ so that it may be contrasted with other similar notions that are Sustainability 2013, 5 associated more with representative democracy
We will examine two case studies, for which a public policy instrument is used: the case of food product labelling, and the case of risk modelling linked to the use of pesticides
2000s and was chosen to evaluate the risks associated with pesticide use

Summary

Introduction

This article aims to highlight original proposals made by citizens/practitioners when engaged in a participatory set-up (dispositif in French) with a deliberative orientation (a deliberative focus group) We conceive of these as the expression of what we have chosen to call a ―pragmatic collective interest‖ so that it may be contrasted with other similar notions (like common interest) that are Sustainability 2013, 5 associated more with representative democracy. The second project—the PEPAM [22] project—concerns a public evaluation of the risks linked to pesticides This project was very different from the labelling project since it was concerned with generating discussion about a complex technical-scientific model.

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Conclusion