In the first volume of its kind, a collection of top policy scholars combine empirical and methodological analysis in the field of comparative policy studies to provide compelling insights into the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies across regional and national boundaries.

Biotechnology is one of the most important new issues to emerge in the knowledge economy. The Politics of Biotechnology in North America and Europe provides analysts with a perspective on policy-making in scientifically advanced countries that integrate the insights of several approaches and that display a particular sensitivity to the complexity of policy-making conjectures. This perspective allows going beyond the simplistic understandings of biotechnology policy currently prevailing. This volume provides a rigorous analysis and detailed information on biotechnology policy in nine countries. The essays included here present the results of in-depth empirical research in the area of biomedicine and agro-food biotechnology. The book is, therefore, not only of interest to policy-makers and policy analysts, but also to anyone with an interest in biotechnology.

Contents:
1. The Comparative Policy Design Perspective
2. Belgium: A Bioethical Paradise?
3. ART Policy in Italy: Explaining the Lack of Comprehensive Regulation
4. Policy Networks, Federalism and Managerial Ideas: How ART Non-Decision in Canada Safeguards the Autonomy of the Medical Profession
5. The United States: National Talk and State Action in Governing ART
6. ART in Spain: Technocratic Inheritance and Modernist Aspirations
7. United Kingdom: Regulation Through a National Licensing Authority
8. France: Protecting Human Dignity While Encouraging Scientific Progress
9. The Netherlands: Conflict and Consensus on Assisted Reproductive Technology Policy
10. Germany: ART Policies as Embryo Protection
11. Switzerland: Policy Design and Direct Democracy
12. Legislation for Protection: Why Norway Designed Restrictive Policies in the Field of ART
13. Comparing Policy Design Across Countries: What Accounts for Variation in ART Policy?

In the first volume of its kind, a collection of top policy scholars combine empirical and methodological analysis in the field of comparative policy studies to provide compelling insights into the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies across regional and national boundaries.

Biotechnology is one of the most important new issues to emerge in the knowledge economy. The Politics of Biotechnology in North America and Europe provides analysts with a perspective on policy-making in scientifically advanced countries that integrate the insights of several approaches and that display a particular sensitivity to the complexity of policy-making conjectures. This perspective allows going beyond the simplistic understandings of biotechnology policy currently prevailing. This volume provides a rigorous analysis and detailed information on biotechnology policy in nine countries. The essays included here present the results of in-depth empirical research in the area of biomedicine and agro-food biotechnology. The book is, therefore, not only of interest to policy-makers and policy analysts, but also to anyone with an interest in biotechnology.