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From risk to vulnerability: the role of perceived adaptive capacity for the acceptance of contested infrastructure

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  • Corinne Moser
  • Michael Stauffacher
  • Yann B. Blumer
  • Roland W. Scholz

Abstract

Infrastructure projects such as repositories for nuclear waste or hazardous waste sites impose risks (in the form of potential burdens or losses) over extensive timescales. These risks change dynamically over time and so, potentially, does their management. Societies and key actors go through learning processes and subsequently may be better able to deal with related challenges. However, social scientific research on the acceptance of such projects is mainly concerned with (static) risk perception issues and does not include dynamic aspects. Adaptive capacity, which is part of the concept of vulnerability, therefore represents a promising complementing facet for this line of research. The aim of this paper is to examine the role of perceived adaptive capacity (PAC) for the acceptance of contested long-term infrastructure for the two issues of nuclear and hazardous waste. In an online experimental survey ( N =300) examining either the acceptance of a nuclear waste repository or of a hazardous waste site, we demonstrate that (i) PAC can be separated empirically as a psychological construct from risk and benefit perception, and (ii) PAC explains a significant additional share of variance in the acceptance of both waste types beyond risk and benefit perception. Furthermore, we report what adaptation mechanisms of PAC participants expect to occur in the future. We conclude that such a dynamic perspective yields important insights in understanding individual decision-making regarding long-term infrastructure projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Corinne Moser & Michael Stauffacher & Yann B. Blumer & Roland W. Scholz, 2015. "From risk to vulnerability: the role of perceived adaptive capacity for the acceptance of contested infrastructure," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(5), pages 622-636, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jriskr:v:18:y:2014:i:5:p:622-636
    DOI: 10.1080/13669877.2014.910687
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    Cited by:

    1. Roland W. Scholz, 2017. "Digital Threat and Vulnerability Management: The SVIDT Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-26, April.
    2. Scholz, Roland W. & Köckler, Heike & Zscheischler, Jana & Czichos, Reiner & Hofmann, Klaus-Markus & Sindermann, Cornelia, 2024. "Transdisciplinary knowledge integration PART II: Experiences of five transdisciplinary processes on digital data use in Germany," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    3. Scholz, Roland W. & Czichos, Reiner & Parycek, Peter & Lampoltshammer, Thomas J., 2020. "Organizational vulnerability of digital threats: A first validation of an assessment method," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 282(2), pages 627-643.

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