Within the recombinant DNA debate, a
formative categorisation of gene technology has occurred
by which matters of concern must be separated into either
those that belong to nature or those that belong to society.
With reference to the work of Ulrich Beck and Bruno Latour,
I trace these separations through the lives of two objects
of gene technology: a genetically modified bacterium and
genetically modified canola. I argue that the categories,
institutions and regulatory systems of gene technology
that emerge along with these objects, are generative of
a citizen-subject who, in order to participate in decision-making
processes, must be able to dissect their concerns and
allocate them appropriately either to nature or to society
but not to both. Citizens do not neatly separate their
concerns in this way and for many citizens the citizen-subject
generated by gene technology is an alienating one. As
a consequence, citizens are encouraged into a sub-politics
to which governments must respond. This process of separations,
citizen-subject formation and alienation is generative
of a politics that undermines the legitimacy of gene technology
and its institutions.
Key Words – Gene technology;
genetically modified organisms; citizens; risk; regulation;
public participation
