Causal layer analysis as a technology policy tool; Case study of fear of transgenics with an emphasis on social perspective

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Director of the Governance Futures Studies department at Institute of Vision and Futures Studies

2 Director of the , Social Futures Studies Department, at Institute of Vision and Futures Studies

3 Master of ٰTechnological Foresight, Faculty of Management, Science and Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology

4 Director of the Health Futures, Studies Department at Institute of, Vision and Futures Studies

Abstract

The story of technology confrontation and the fear of new technologies has a long history. The fact that weaving machines first entered the factories was a source of concern for workers and their uprisings, followed by radio, cell phones, Bluetooth technology, social networks, and dozens more, against which serious resistance from policymakers or public was seen. In this paper, the researchers intend to analyze the phobia of biotechnology and in particular the technology of transgenics in a futuristic way. This article, after examining the past situation and analyzing the positions of GMO actors, rethinks policy making from social perspective to dealing with transgenic products using a causal analysis approach. Finally, researchers address deeper, broader, transformative strategies with considering various stakeholders at levels of decision- making.