The process of arrest in federally funded technology is illuminated through the case of
weather modification. A technology passes through three stages: birth, opportunity, and
decline. Critical to arrest is failure by the advocacy coalition to make maximum use of
the opportunity stage to show progress and build support. To do so may require unusual
cohesion and consensus among diverse advocates: scientists, administrators, politicians, industry, and affected publics. Without such consensus, opportunity is missed or
misused, and a technology moves into decline. This happens because the advocacy
coalition shrinks and government support, essential to advance, diminishes and may
even terminate.
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