Scientific Uncertainty and the Politics of Whaling

Focusing on the internal workings of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the author explores the impact of political and economic imperatives on the production and interpretation of scientific research. Central to this work are the epistemological problems encountered in the production of 'truth', whereby scientific knowledge has made uncertainty a tool in the service of political objectives. Copublished: University of Washington Press

“"In Scientific Uncertainty and the Politics of Whaling, Michael Heazle undertakes a detailed historical review of the use of science and politics in shaping the policies of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). This volume provides an insightful look at the intrinsic links between science and policy, reminding the reader that science does not provide objective truths for decision-makers to translate into scientifically correct policies."--Cinnamon Pinon Carlarne, nternational Journal of Maritime History”

"In Scientific Uncertainty and the Politics of Whaling, Michael Heazle undertakes a detailed historical review of the use of science and politics in shaping the policies of the International Whaling Commission (IWC)... This volume provides an insightful look at the intrinsic links between science and policy, reminding the reader that science does not provide objective truths for decision-makers to translate into scientifically correct policies." -- Cinnamon Pinon Carlarne nternational Journal of Maritime History

In this intriguing study, Michael Heazle examines how International Whaling Commission (IWC) policy dramatically shifted from furthering the interests of whaling nations to eventually banning all commercial whaling. Focusing on the internal workings of a single organization, Heazle explores the impact of political and economic imperatives on the projection and interpretation of scientific research and advice. Central to his work are the epistemological problems encountered in the production of "truth." Science does not produce incontestable facts that can be expected to lead to consensus decisions; rather, the problematic nature of knowledge itself allows for various interpretations of data depending on the interests of those at the table. It is precisely the nature of scientific knowledge, Heazle argues, that has made uncertainty a tool in service of political objectives. When scientific advice to whaling nations could not with absolute certainty declare whaling practices a threat to stocks, those IWC members with substantial investments of political and economic capital used this uncertainty to reject a reduction in quotas. As perceptions of whaling changed-with the collapse of Antarctic whaling stocks, further diminishing economic returns, and public opinion turning against commercial whaling-uncertainty switched sides. Nonwhaling members in the IWC, a majority by the 1970s, claimed that because scientific data could not probe that commercial whaling was sustainable, hunting should stop. Uncertainty was used to protect the resource rather than the industry. That science cannot be an impartial determinant in policy-making decisions does not render it useless. But Heazle's analysis does suggest that without understanding the role of scientific uncertainty-and the political purposes for which it is used-international cooperation on wildlife management and broader issues will continue to become bogged down in arguments over whose science is correct.

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