Vol. 34 Nos. 3-4 (July-December 2013)
PA experts reflect on gov’t...
(From page 6)
organizations, that play an important role in mobilizing
ordinary citizens amid a weak and turbulent political
system. These challenges may have implications on the
following institutions and mechanisms: 1) bureaucracy,
governance structure and mandate; 2) consistency
between structure and functions, as well as fiscal powers
and resource allocation; 3) human resources development
and capacity building; 4) women’s representation; 5) “coconstruction” of roles
of the public sector
“[Does ARMM] really
and
endogenous
have an autonomous
groups;
and
6)
region, or is it something
grassroots education.
autonomous on
Lastly,
Professor
paper... because of
Hideaki Shiroyama
the kind of powers that
of the University
leaders cling on to? It
of Tokyo talked
presents a challenge
about
regulatory
failures
involved again on the quality of
in the Fukushima
leadership...”
Nuclear
Accident
--Prof. Edna A. Co
on 11 March 2011.
In his presentation,
“Complex Risk Governance: Regulatory ‘Failures’
of Japan’s Nuclear Safety Regulation and its Reform”,
Professor Shiroyama noted two systemic causes for
the Fukushima accident. One of these is the failure of
interdisciplinary communication of the extent of tsunami
damage on nuclear reactors. As such, nuclear safety
experts lacked understanding of the unpredictability of
tsunamis and their devastating effects on nuclear plants.
He also highlighted flaws in coordination between public
and private sectors to prevent the Fukushima accident.
He pointed out that accident management in nuclear
power plants have not yet been fully institutionalized,
and are largely considered as voluntary efforts by the
nuclear power plant operators. Nonetheless, these efforts
are inadequate as disaster response. There were also
difficulties reconciling the viewpoints on nuclear safety
by engineers and those by security experts.
Meanwhile, Prof. Shiroyama recommended that, to
address these regulatory failures, reforms in nuclear
safety policies and institutions should be made: 1)
empowering the nuclear regulatory bodies (NRBs); 2)
building capacities of nuclear safety personnel, as well as
EROPA Bulletin
7
experts; and 3) ensuring interdisciplinary communication
among institutions involved in nuclear safety to promote
understanding on seismic and tsunami risks.
Speakers answer questions from the floor. (Photo: LAC)
THE ASIAN REVIEW OF PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
The Asian Review of Public Administration
(ARPA) is a biennial journal published by
the Eastern Regional Organization for Public
Administration. Since 1989, papers and articles
in ARPA have dealt with various topics on public
administration, reform, economic and political
transitions, and governance, among others.
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To avail of a copy or subscribe to the journal,
please contact the EROPA Secretariat (eropa.
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