ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors deal with a consideration of some of the themes relating to desirability and feasibility, and does so by placing regulation in an historical and longitudinal context. Further, in developing the authors own theoretical position, regulation is considered within: emerging and changing conceptions of risk; the wider context of governance, and differing hegemonic versions of what is meant by this. The authors examine the constant efforts around hegemony construction and reconstruction, again highlighting the interactive nature of the process of regulatory reform, and the struggle of regulatory agencies to act as hegemonic apparatuses. The development of the US chemical industry has undoubtedly helped increase material wealth and improved American’s general standard of living. While the postwar expansion in production brought immense benefit to the US chemical industry, it entailed enormous costs which were disproportionately borne by its workers and by local communities.
