This paper exposes the reasons that account for the observed cross-national risk regulation diffe... more This paper exposes the reasons that account for the observed cross-national risk regulation differences. In particular, it points at a combination of entrenched cultural and philosophical beliefs about the state and its role, institutional settings and behaviours, contingent events and interest groups capacity.
This paper argues that although risk assessment (RA) provides useful decision support, it also pr... more This paper argues that although risk assessment (RA) provides useful decision support, it also presents numerous limits and that the " pure scientific " qualities often attributed to it are rightly challenged. The first section describes the four steps in human health RA and exposes the " traps " (Paustenbach, 2002, p. 44) that each process introduces. The second part develops on the debate about the relevance of RA given the issues of uncertainty, ambiguity, and ignorance inherent in the process.
This essay engages in the long-standing debate of public risk governance regarding the implementa... more This essay engages in the long-standing debate of public risk governance regarding the implementation of regulations based on risk assessment or hazard classification. The paper argues that, in Europe, the justification for implementing a ban on BPA relies on hazard classification and does not stem from a complete risk assessment proceeding. In a first part, the paper exposes how faced with uncertainty and little evidence regarding human effect, regulatory decisions were made invoking the precautionary principle and arguing for substitution. The second part presents the downsides and limitations of risk assessment.
This essay exposes three overarching arguments against the individual blame approach: unjust (sub... more This essay exposes three overarching arguments against the individual blame approach: unjust (subjective and inaccurate), ineffective (organizational myopia and inertia), and dangerous (impede organizational learning and contribute to latent error accumulation). For each argument, the paper explains in what way the no-blame strategy offers a better alternative. The final section touches on the limits and difficulties of the blame-free strategy.
A brief analysis of the UK shale gas industry risk communication. Abstract: This paper argues tha... more A brief analysis of the UK shale gas industry risk communication. Abstract: This paper argues that the failure of the shale gas industry to address the multi-dimensionality of laypeople's risk perception has had significant consequences. In committing their communication into a narrow persuasive strategy, the industry and the government have miscalibrated their message and significantly undermined trust. Although some efforts were made to assess public mental models it is not clear how the findings have helped correct the frontal PR pathway already taken. From this perspective, shale gas exploitation in the UK is likely to remain an area of contention and political struggle.
This research describes and analyses the processes that lead to the 2012 ban of thiamethoxam in F... more This research describes and analyses the processes that lead to the 2012 ban of thiamethoxam in France. Ecological systems are complex and characterized by a low understanding of their probability of risk occurrence and impact of risk outcome. In such type of risk situation, the structures and processes for collective decision-making involving governmental and non-governmental actors face the three major challenges of: complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity. Using risk regulation regime as an analytical framework, this study highlights the various mechanisms that explain the policy outcome. This mechanismic explanation permits to fully comprehend the scope of the thiamethoxam risk regulation regime and its functioning in regards to the use of knowledge in risk assessment and management. Finally, the case-study exposes some persistent trends within the French precautionary regime and the ways in which the various stakeholders have tried to influence the policy.
In this paper, I review the principal arguments and mechanisms presented in the violence and reso... more In this paper, I review the principal arguments and mechanisms presented in the violence and resource literature and argue for the pertinence of the “grievance and weak state” thesis. The political-economy framework of this paradigm emphasizes on the absence, weakness or transformation (Robbins 2000) of structures designed to manage natural resources and thus appears more able to put forward efficient foundational policy suggestion to break the vicious circle in eliminating “grabber friendly institutions” (Mehlum & Torvik, 2006).
A critical examination of the conceptual approaches used in risk assessment. Considering the fou... more A critical examination of the conceptual approaches used in risk assessment. Considering the four main steps of hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose response relations and risk characterization.
This study explores the private security sector and its consequences in international politics. T... more This study explores the private security sector and its consequences in international politics. The objective of the research is to identify which pertinent roles can Private Military Companies (PMCs) fulfil in today’s security environment, after having accounted for the power transformations and socio-political problems induced by the emergence of these new security actors.
This essay argues that both consociational and civil societies views are foundationally influence... more This essay argues that both consociational and civil societies views are foundationally influenced by their perception of identity and that constructivism offers a pertinent critique of both approaches, and opens a third way for the understanding of identity conflict.
In 1961, the US Department of Defense (DOD) introduced the use of tactical herbicides in Vietnam ... more In 1961, the US Department of Defense (DOD) introduced the use of tactical herbicides in Vietnam with the objective to improve visibility, prevent ambush, disrupt enemy food supply, as well as secure and facilitate the construction of military bases. This essay argues that the use of Agent Orange corresponds to a state-initiated state-corporate crime against health and safety and against nature, and could also be related to war crime. To support this argument, the paper exposes links between criminology theories and the use of tactical herbicides.
This essay argues that the 2003 US led military operation in Iraq did not meet the criteria tradi... more This essay argues that the 2003 US led military operation in Iraq did not meet the criteria traditionally understood as constituting a humanitarian intervention and thus could not be considered as such. To demonstrate this argument, the paper exposes the standards that ought to frame the case for humanitarian intervention and consistently applies them to the Iraqi experience.
A questioning over the concepts of state and security, also denouncing the ecocidal character of ... more A questioning over the concepts of state and security, also denouncing the ecocidal character of both liberal and realist IR theories.
Since the creation of the European Steel and Coal Community, scholars have been proposing models ... more Since the creation of the European Steel and Coal Community, scholars have been proposing models attempting to establish to which extent does the European political structure become a political decision-maker on its own, and thus challenge the sovereignty of the member states. This question is significant not only because it helps deepen the understanding of the nature of the EU, but also because it uncovers some issues regarding the implication of non-democratic aspects of moving political power from the nation-state to a democratically unaccountable supranational political structure.
This paper exposes the reasons that account for the observed cross-national risk regulation diffe... more This paper exposes the reasons that account for the observed cross-national risk regulation differences. In particular, it points at a combination of entrenched cultural and philosophical beliefs about the state and its role, institutional settings and behaviours, contingent events and interest groups capacity.
This paper argues that although risk assessment (RA) provides useful decision support, it also pr... more This paper argues that although risk assessment (RA) provides useful decision support, it also presents numerous limits and that the " pure scientific " qualities often attributed to it are rightly challenged. The first section describes the four steps in human health RA and exposes the " traps " (Paustenbach, 2002, p. 44) that each process introduces. The second part develops on the debate about the relevance of RA given the issues of uncertainty, ambiguity, and ignorance inherent in the process.
This essay engages in the long-standing debate of public risk governance regarding the implementa... more This essay engages in the long-standing debate of public risk governance regarding the implementation of regulations based on risk assessment or hazard classification. The paper argues that, in Europe, the justification for implementing a ban on BPA relies on hazard classification and does not stem from a complete risk assessment proceeding. In a first part, the paper exposes how faced with uncertainty and little evidence regarding human effect, regulatory decisions were made invoking the precautionary principle and arguing for substitution. The second part presents the downsides and limitations of risk assessment.
This essay exposes three overarching arguments against the individual blame approach: unjust (sub... more This essay exposes three overarching arguments against the individual blame approach: unjust (subjective and inaccurate), ineffective (organizational myopia and inertia), and dangerous (impede organizational learning and contribute to latent error accumulation). For each argument, the paper explains in what way the no-blame strategy offers a better alternative. The final section touches on the limits and difficulties of the blame-free strategy.
A brief analysis of the UK shale gas industry risk communication. Abstract: This paper argues tha... more A brief analysis of the UK shale gas industry risk communication. Abstract: This paper argues that the failure of the shale gas industry to address the multi-dimensionality of laypeople's risk perception has had significant consequences. In committing their communication into a narrow persuasive strategy, the industry and the government have miscalibrated their message and significantly undermined trust. Although some efforts were made to assess public mental models it is not clear how the findings have helped correct the frontal PR pathway already taken. From this perspective, shale gas exploitation in the UK is likely to remain an area of contention and political struggle.
This research describes and analyses the processes that lead to the 2012 ban of thiamethoxam in F... more This research describes and analyses the processes that lead to the 2012 ban of thiamethoxam in France. Ecological systems are complex and characterized by a low understanding of their probability of risk occurrence and impact of risk outcome. In such type of risk situation, the structures and processes for collective decision-making involving governmental and non-governmental actors face the three major challenges of: complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity. Using risk regulation regime as an analytical framework, this study highlights the various mechanisms that explain the policy outcome. This mechanismic explanation permits to fully comprehend the scope of the thiamethoxam risk regulation regime and its functioning in regards to the use of knowledge in risk assessment and management. Finally, the case-study exposes some persistent trends within the French precautionary regime and the ways in which the various stakeholders have tried to influence the policy.
In this paper, I review the principal arguments and mechanisms presented in the violence and reso... more In this paper, I review the principal arguments and mechanisms presented in the violence and resource literature and argue for the pertinence of the “grievance and weak state” thesis. The political-economy framework of this paradigm emphasizes on the absence, weakness or transformation (Robbins 2000) of structures designed to manage natural resources and thus appears more able to put forward efficient foundational policy suggestion to break the vicious circle in eliminating “grabber friendly institutions” (Mehlum & Torvik, 2006).
A critical examination of the conceptual approaches used in risk assessment. Considering the fou... more A critical examination of the conceptual approaches used in risk assessment. Considering the four main steps of hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose response relations and risk characterization.
This study explores the private security sector and its consequences in international politics. T... more This study explores the private security sector and its consequences in international politics. The objective of the research is to identify which pertinent roles can Private Military Companies (PMCs) fulfil in today’s security environment, after having accounted for the power transformations and socio-political problems induced by the emergence of these new security actors.
This essay argues that both consociational and civil societies views are foundationally influence... more This essay argues that both consociational and civil societies views are foundationally influenced by their perception of identity and that constructivism offers a pertinent critique of both approaches, and opens a third way for the understanding of identity conflict.
In 1961, the US Department of Defense (DOD) introduced the use of tactical herbicides in Vietnam ... more In 1961, the US Department of Defense (DOD) introduced the use of tactical herbicides in Vietnam with the objective to improve visibility, prevent ambush, disrupt enemy food supply, as well as secure and facilitate the construction of military bases. This essay argues that the use of Agent Orange corresponds to a state-initiated state-corporate crime against health and safety and against nature, and could also be related to war crime. To support this argument, the paper exposes links between criminology theories and the use of tactical herbicides.
This essay argues that the 2003 US led military operation in Iraq did not meet the criteria tradi... more This essay argues that the 2003 US led military operation in Iraq did not meet the criteria traditionally understood as constituting a humanitarian intervention and thus could not be considered as such. To demonstrate this argument, the paper exposes the standards that ought to frame the case for humanitarian intervention and consistently applies them to the Iraqi experience.
A questioning over the concepts of state and security, also denouncing the ecocidal character of ... more A questioning over the concepts of state and security, also denouncing the ecocidal character of both liberal and realist IR theories.
Since the creation of the European Steel and Coal Community, scholars have been proposing models ... more Since the creation of the European Steel and Coal Community, scholars have been proposing models attempting to establish to which extent does the European political structure become a political decision-maker on its own, and thus challenge the sovereignty of the member states. This question is significant not only because it helps deepen the understanding of the nature of the EU, but also because it uncovers some issues regarding the implication of non-democratic aspects of moving political power from the nation-state to a democratically unaccountable supranational political structure.
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