Evolving Chinese Approaches to the Management of Technological Risks

在过去的二十年里，对风险的文化关注的研究有了很大的发展。其中一个领域的研究有限，那就是非西方国家对风险的认知和应对。本文对《中国》中的技术风险管理进行研究，旨在通过考察现代中国的不同文化形态如何与国际环境的强大影响相互作用来设计应对风险的方案，从而扩大对风险的社会建构的跨文化理解。通过在美国和中国的档案研究和采访，该项目将对中国在防洪、核电、危险化学品和航空运营方面的风险管理战略进行案例研究。除了在比较风险分析文献中增加一个重要的非西方例子外，该项目还应有助于理解来自国外的主要影响，包括技术转让、国际教育经验、国际组织成员资格、外交政策模型的研究和模拟以及对外国风险争议的暴露，如何影响一国的“风险转变”。加深对如何识别、评估和管理风险的理解，也将为中国解决复杂环境问题的方法提供更多的洞察力，从而为与中国在环境事务上的长期国际接触奠定更坚实的基础。

The study of cultural attention to risk has developed greatly over the past two decades. One area where there has been only limited work is that of non-western perceptions of and responses to risk. This study of the management of technological risks in China seeks to expand cross-cultural understanding of the social construction of risk by examining how different cultural formations in modern China have interacted with powerful influences from the international environment in devising responses to risks. Through archival research and interviews, both in the United States and in China, the project will develop case studies of Chinese risk management strategies for flood control, nuclear power, hazardous chemicals and airline operations. In addition to adding an important non-western example to the comparative risk analysis literature, the project should contribute to understanding how major influences from abroad, including technology transfers, international educational experiences, membership in international organizations, study and emulation of foreign policy models, and exposure to foreign risk controversies, affect a nation's "risk transitions." Sharpening an appreciation of how risks are identified, assessed, and managed will also provide additional insights into Chinese approaches to its complex environmental problems and, thus, how to build a stronger base for what is likely to be a long-term international engagement with China on environmental affairs.