Towards a precautionary risk policy in the EU? A policy analysis comparing the regulation of mad cow disease and transgenic plants

The aim of my dissertation is to analyse risk regulation policy under the conditions of scientific uncertainty and ignorance by the European Union. Further questions are: How is the relationship between science and governance organised? How can the European policy making be understood? What are the effects of risk regulation under the conditions of scientific uncertainty and ignorance? Is there a change in the relationship between science and governance?

The theoretical background of my project is a combination of risk sociology (particularly the theory of reflexive modernisation) and policy analysis (mainly European regulation theory). The aim is to develop an analytical framework for political scientists to investigate the policy of risk regulation in the general context of reflexive modernisation. On the basis of this theoretical background my basic hypothesis is that the European Union is on the way towards a precautionary risk policy.
Therefore I have developed a risk typology in order to classify risks and political decision making. The risk typology will be applied to two case studies: mad cow disease and transgenic food.