This paper addresses the issue of public perception of modern biotechnology in the Netherlands. Contrary to expectations, data from the 1999 Eurobarometer on biotechnology indicate that the position of the Dutch public in general is rather ambiguous, which is in contrast to many of its neighboring countries. The issue is described in terms of differences between the Netherlands and other European countries on political-economic, social-cultural, or media coverage indicators. On many indicators, the Dutch population differs from that of other European countries, and the Dutch opinion-leading media present a rather balanced perspective on modern biotechnology.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
J. M. Gutteling , C. Midden, C. Smink, and A. Meijnders, “The Netherlands: controversy or consensus?” in Biotechnology, The Years of Controversy 1996-2000, ed. George Gaskell and Martin Bauer (London: Science Museum, 2001).
2.
G. Gaskell , N. Allum, M. Baueret al., “Biotechnology and the European public,”Nature Biotechnology20 (September 2000): 935-938.
3.
G. Gaskell , N. Allum, W. Wagner, T. Hviid Nielsen, Erling Jelsøe, M. Kohring, and M. Bauer, “In the public eye: representations of biotechnology in Europe,” in Biotechnology, The Years of Controversy 1996-2000.
4.
J. M. Guttelinget al. , “The Netherlands: controversy or consensus?”
5.
M. Guttelinget al. , “The Netherlands: controversy or consensus?”
6.
G. Gaskellet al. , “Biotechnology and the European Public.”
7.
M. W. Bauer , M. Kohring, A. Allansdottir, and J. Gutteling, “The representation of biotechnology in the elite media,” in Biotechnology, The Years of Controversy 1996-2000.
8.
J. M. Gutteling , A. Olofsson, B. Fjæstad, M. Kohring, A. Goerke, M. Bauer, T. Rusanen, et al., “Dynamics in the coverage of modern biotechnology in the opinion-leading European press, 1973-1996,” in Biotechnology: The Making of a Global Controversy, ed. Martin Bauer, John Durant, and George Gaskell (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002).
9.
J. M. Guttelinget al. , “Dynamics in the coverage of modern biotechnology in the opinion-leading European press.”
10.
J. M. Guttelinget al. , “The Netherlands: controversy or consensus?”
11.
W. J. M. Heijs and C. J. H. Midden, Biotechnology, Attitudes and Influencing Factors (Eindhoven, the Netherlands: University of Eindhoven, 1993).
12.
A. Hamstra, “Gewone burgers spreken zich uit over gentechnologie,”Tijdschrift voor geneeskunde en ethiek 3, no. 3 (1993): 87-88.
13.
A. Glasmeijer , “Consensus conferences, the media and public information in the Netherlands,” in Public Participation in Science: The Role of Consensus Conferences in Europe, ed. Simon Joss and John Durant (London: Science Museum, 1995).
14.
Social Cultural Planning Bureau , Social Cultural Report 2000 (The Hague: Government Printing Office, 2000).
15.
J. M. Gutteling, L. Hanssen, and N. van der Veer, Flankerend Onderzoek Biotechnologie en Voedsel in Het Kader van Het Publiek Debat Eten en Genen. Deelrapport 1 (Enschede, the Netherlands: University of Twente, 2001).
16.
J. M. Guttelinget al. , “Dynamics in the coverage of modern biotechnology in the opinion-leading European press.”
