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Water Pollution Control In Democratic Societies: A Cross‐National Analysis Of Sources Of Public Beliefs In In Japan And The United States
Author(s) -
Lovrich Nicholas P.,
Pierce John C.,
Tsurutani Taketsugu,
Abe Takematsu
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-1338.1985.tb00367.x
Subject(s) - post industrial society , democracy , government (linguistics) , political science , public opinion , public policy , state (computer science) , pollution , control (management) , environmental pollution , economic growth , public administration , development economics , environmental protection , politics , geography , economics , law , computer science , biology , management , ecology , philosophy , linguistics , algorithm
Postindustrial society seems to bring with it an inevitable heightening of official and public concern with environmental pollution. In light of this fact it becomes important to understand the dynamics by which public opinion is formulated in this area of public policy. What factors are associated with citizens placing concern for environmental pollution above other public policy concerns? What individual characteristics are associ‐ ated with the development of the view that government ought to take direct action to prevent or deal with environmental pollution? Are such factors common to postindustrial democratic societies generally? The study reported here identifies the similarities and differences in the patterns and correlates of pollution relevant beliefs and behavior in Japan (in the cities of Llishima, Fuji and Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture] and the United States (Spokane City and County, Washington State). A comparative study of pollution policy can be especially instructive inasmuch as unique cultural, economic, historical and social patterns may generate distinctive citizen conceptions of desired policy outcomes and means to achieve them.