Approcci, principi e strumenti per una governance responsabile delle nanotecnologie

Nanotechnologies represent for the jurist - and even more for the law - an interest which consists in recognizing the normative elements of the nanotechnological processes, by innovating the legal instruments and diversifying knowledge in dealing with problems. In light of this, the literature has proposed and continues to offer interesting interpretations for the redefinition of the relationship between nanoscience, nanotechnology and society, by analyzing and promoting the concepts of anticipatory governance, social learning, governance landscape of nanotechnology. This paper shows how all these concepts share a basic assumption, namely that it is impossible to separate the scientific components from those of policy. This requires urgently, for the governance of nanotechnologies, the development of new tools and procedures, which should include the awareness of scientific uncertainty and risk, the application of the precautionary principle, the accountability (in its several aspects) of social actors and upstream public engagement.