ENERGY POLICY AND DEMOCRATIC THEORY

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an exploratory effort to interpret U.S. energy policy from the viewpoint of democratic theory. Of the many risks associated with nuclear energy, the most serious are those concerning nuclear weapons proliferation. A plutonium economy is defensible; however, it does not follow straightforwardly from uncontroversial premises. In a democracy, there can typically be legitimate roles for both direct participation and representative institutions, arranged in some complementary fashion. Representation is needed where limits on time or other logistical difficulties render universal participation impractical or where direct participation promises less adequately to protect minorities' rights. However, ideally, representative institutions should facilitate direct participation. Direct citizen participation in political affairs helps to ensure that each person's interests are taken into account in collective decisions. Participation can enable people to feel free under law, because they have played a part in formulating, enacting, and interpreting the law. Technical advisors function imperfectly as representatives because their accountability to citizens is so attenuated that it is practically nonexistent.