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Theoretical frameworks associated with science and technology studies (STS) are becoming increasingly prominent in social science energy research, but what do they offer? This review provides a brief history of relevant STS concepts and frameworks and a structured analysis of how STS perspectives are appearing in energy social science research and how energy-related research is appearing in social science STS. Drawing from an initial body of 262 journal articles and books with a stratified sample of 68 published from 2009 to mid-2019, the review identifies four major groups of perspectives: (1) STS-related cultural analysis, especially the study of sociotechnical imaginaries; (2) STS-related policy analysis, such as research on the social construction of risks and standards and on the performativity of economic models; (3) STS perspectives on public participation processes, expert-public relations, and mobilized publics; and (4) the study of sociotechnical systems, including large technological systems, the politics of design, and users and actor-networks. Connections among the perspectives and the value for energy social science research are also critically discussed.

Begins with a reflection on the field of political science, which, while highly politicized internally, plays no central role in public policy debate. Research is generally shaped by the political preferences of the field's generally liberal-Left practitioners, but these views are seldom attended to outside of academia. The remainder of the comment discusses the importance & disadvantages of specialization, & the need for methodological expertise to include policy knowledge as well as academic knowledge. K. Coddon

In this paper, author tries to analyze complex character of the relation between law and morality in contemporary law philosophy. There are three approaches to the issue of relation between law and morality: natural law theory (identity thesis), positivist (separation thesis) and Anglo-American analytical jurisprudence (polarity thesis). The identity thesis-law and morality are basically identical, although basic principles of morality are subordinated to the positive legal rules; the separation thesis-law and morality are quite different system of norms: positive legal rules are completely deprived of any moral content; Polarity thesis - law and morality are different systems of norms which complement to each other. The polarity thesis is exemplified in theories of Herbert Hart and Ronald Dworkin's. At the logical level, polarity thesis overcomes and specifically synthesizes abstract character and reductionism of identity and separation thesis. At the socio-historical level, the polarity thesis is result of historical development of legal and political institutions.

Through most of history, science & technology have experienced only brief fusions; their full synthesis is a product of the European Renaissance. The reasons for this innovation remain a crucial question for historians. The impact of this fusion of science & technology on modern societies is explored. The present is discontinuous with the past both because quantitative increases have brought qualitatively new phases of development into being, & because technological & social problems are now worldwide in scope. The result has been a series of failures of technology & science, with worldwide impact. Recent scientific developments with technological/social consequences of world significance include nuclear weapons, cybernetics, information technology, agricultural technology, biological engineering, birth control, mass communication, medical technology, polymer studies, the social system through which science produces knowledge, & resource exploitation. Technical elites are assuming power based on specialized competence, & their elite position is a source of political, social, & ideological threats to human societies. 1 Photograph, 1 Illustration. W. H. Stoddard.

An assessment of the impact of social science on the formulation of public policy in liberal-democratic societies. As the postwar expansion became firmly entrenched in the 1950s & 1960s, many liberal-democratic states began to use social research for a number of policy purposes. In Europe, this trend resulted from the social measures & planning introduced by political reform coalitions who used social research to inform their policy choices after gaining power. Social scientists constituted a significant part of these coalitions & were able to gain access to resources & augment the role of social science in policy formulation. These developments were replicated in North America & contributed to the prestige & political significance of social science. The discussion is placed within the larger context of the social & political roles of intellectuals. AA

A concise introduction to the role of law in environmental protection. It offers a greater understanding of international and national environmental law and has case studies from all over the world.