Transparency through Labelling? Layers of Visibility in Environmental Risk Management
Klintman, Mikael LU
and Boström, Magnus
(2008)
p.178-197
- Abstract
- The aim of this chapter is to move the issue a bit beyond the polarized views of
profound critical reflection versus excessive trust in the checking procedures behind
standards. We claim that the polarized views are largely due to an over-simplistic
understanding of transparency. By comparing practical policy processes surrounding
various standards, we aim to provide nuance to the issue of transparency. This study ofpolicy processes, along with examinations of theoretical work in policy analysis, makes
clear the limits of merely treating transparency in terms of ‘more’ versus ‘less’. A more
thorough understanding of the promise and limits of transparency in policy processes
... (More) - The aim of this chapter is to move the issue a bit beyond the polarized views of
profound critical reflection versus excessive trust in the checking procedures behind
standards. We claim that the polarized views are largely due to an over-simplistic
understanding of transparency. By comparing practical policy processes surrounding
various standards, we aim to provide nuance to the issue of transparency. This study ofpolicy processes, along with examinations of theoretical work in policy analysis, makes
clear the limits of merely treating transparency in terms of ‘more’ versus ‘less’. A more
thorough understanding of the promise and limits of transparency in policy processes
requires, we argue, another dimension, consisting of qualitatively different ‘layers’ of
transparency. The basis for our emphasis on this additional dimension is the obvious -
yet often overlooked - notion that an examination of standards, which are in turn
claimed to disclose hidden, and often physical, risks, needs to take the political context
into account as well as the negotiations and framings surrounding the schemes on which
the standards are based. Since risks are uncertain, socially and culturally dependent, and
since they are evaluated and interpreted in many different ways by actors with diverse
ideologies and interests, a more comprehensive transparency must reach far beyond the
concrete visibility and direct awareness of the label itself.
Based on these claims we find it useful to distinguish between four layers of
transparency in relation to standards, certificates and labels: (1) simple, mediated
transparency, (2) negotiated transparency, (3) intra-frame transparency and (4) interframe
transparency (see figure 1). We maintain, nevertheless, that transparency through
standards and labels remains closely related to people’s own direct experiences of risks.
Thus, experiences and senses of our environment never loose their relevance even in
relation to very abstract, technical and expert-oriented tools. Hence, in addition, direct
experience (yet situated, interpreted, etc.) is prevalent at all these four layers.
Empirically, this chapter examines how these layers of transparency operate in
the context of standardized eco-labelling schemes that are claimed to make invisible
risks visible and manageable. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1304080
- author
- Klintman, Mikael
LU
and Boström, Magnus
- organization
- publishing date
- 2008
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- uncertainty, eco-standards, framing, forestry, food, electricity, Transparency
- host publication
- Transparency in a New Global Order: Unveiling Organizational Visions
- editor
- Garsten, C, and Lindh de Montoya, M.
- pages
- 178 - 197
- publisher
- Edward Elgar Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:62549109223
- ISBN
- 978-1-84542-325-4
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a1352a91-cb55-43ef-96a3-2ca8e9b3bb15 (old id 1304080)
- alternative location
- http://www.e-elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?id=3812
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 11:05:03
- date last changed
- 2022-03-24 02:34:06
@inbook{a1352a91-cb55-43ef-96a3-2ca8e9b3bb15,
abstract = {{The aim of this chapter is to move the issue a bit beyond the polarized views of<br/><br>
profound critical reflection versus excessive trust in the checking procedures behind<br/><br>
standards. We claim that the polarized views are largely due to an over-simplistic<br/><br>
understanding of transparency. By comparing practical policy processes surrounding<br/><br>
various standards, we aim to provide nuance to the issue of transparency. This study ofpolicy processes, along with examinations of theoretical work in policy analysis, makes<br/><br>
clear the limits of merely treating transparency in terms of ‘more’ versus ‘less’. A more<br/><br>
thorough understanding of the promise and limits of transparency in policy processes<br/><br>
requires, we argue, another dimension, consisting of qualitatively different ‘layers’ of<br/><br>
transparency. The basis for our emphasis on this additional dimension is the obvious -<br/><br>
yet often overlooked - notion that an examination of standards, which are in turn<br/><br>
claimed to disclose hidden, and often physical, risks, needs to take the political context<br/><br>
into account as well as the negotiations and framings surrounding the schemes on which<br/><br>
the standards are based. Since risks are uncertain, socially and culturally dependent, and<br/><br>
since they are evaluated and interpreted in many different ways by actors with diverse<br/><br>
ideologies and interests, a more comprehensive transparency must reach far beyond the<br/><br>
concrete visibility and direct awareness of the label itself.<br/><br>
Based on these claims we find it useful to distinguish between four layers of<br/><br>
transparency in relation to standards, certificates and labels: (1) simple, mediated<br/><br>
transparency, (2) negotiated transparency, (3) intra-frame transparency and (4) interframe<br/><br>
transparency (see figure 1). We maintain, nevertheless, that transparency through<br/><br>
standards and labels remains closely related to people’s own direct experiences of risks.<br/><br>
Thus, experiences and senses of our environment never loose their relevance even in<br/><br>
relation to very abstract, technical and expert-oriented tools. Hence, in addition, direct<br/><br>
experience (yet situated, interpreted, etc.) is prevalent at all these four layers.<br/><br>
Empirically, this chapter examines how these layers of transparency operate in<br/><br>
the context of standardized eco-labelling schemes that are claimed to make invisible<br/><br>
risks visible and manageable.}},
author = {{Klintman, Mikael and Boström, Magnus}},
booktitle = {{Transparency in a New Global Order: Unveiling Organizational Visions}},
editor = {{Garsten, C, and Lindh de Montoya, M.}},
isbn = {{978-1-84542-325-4}},
keywords = {{uncertainty; eco-standards; framing; forestry; food; electricity; Transparency}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{178--197}},
publisher = {{Edward Elgar Publishing}},
title = {{Transparency through Labelling? Layers of Visibility in Environmental Risk Management}},
url = {{http://www.e-elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?id=3812}},
year = {{2008}},
}