Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 439-456 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Sociology |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2007 |
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Contesting the new irrational actor model : a case study of mobile phone mast protest. / Law, Alex; McNeish, Wallace.
In: Sociology, Vol. 41, No. 3, 06.2007, p. 439-456.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Contesting the new irrational actor model
T2 - a case study of mobile phone mast protest
AU - Law, Alex
AU - McNeish, Wallace
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Public opposition to the siting of telecommunications masts tends to focus on perceived health risks, yet scientific evidence suggests that mobile handsets may constitute more of a risk. This paradox is usually explained in terms of cognitive or communication deficit models that contain an implicit thesis of protest actor irrationality. Recent authors (e.g. Burgess, 2002, 2004;Taverne, 2005) have, however, been more explicit in arguing that such protests are an irrational reaction to media constructed fears and state mismanagement of techno-infrastructure modernization. Together these approaches form what we call the ‘New Irrational Actor Model’. Drawing on insights from social movements theory and data from a 12-month case study of the campaign against Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) telecommunications masts in north-east Fife, we argue that contrary to the ‘New Irrational Actor Model’, the anti-mast protesters utilize multi-form modes of substantive and instrumental rational action.
AB - Public opposition to the siting of telecommunications masts tends to focus on perceived health risks, yet scientific evidence suggests that mobile handsets may constitute more of a risk. This paradox is usually explained in terms of cognitive or communication deficit models that contain an implicit thesis of protest actor irrationality. Recent authors (e.g. Burgess, 2002, 2004;Taverne, 2005) have, however, been more explicit in arguing that such protests are an irrational reaction to media constructed fears and state mismanagement of techno-infrastructure modernization. Together these approaches form what we call the ‘New Irrational Actor Model’. Drawing on insights from social movements theory and data from a 12-month case study of the campaign against Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) telecommunications masts in north-east Fife, we argue that contrary to the ‘New Irrational Actor Model’, the anti-mast protesters utilize multi-form modes of substantive and instrumental rational action.
U2 - 10.1177/0038038507076616
DO - 10.1177/0038038507076616
M3 - Article
VL - 41
SP - 439
EP - 456
JO - Sociology
JF - Sociology
IS - 3
ER -