ABSTRACT
This chapter examines in some detail the effects of knowledge on the public's more specific policy orientations. One assumption in critiques of mass democracies is that public policy preferences are somehow different from what they would be if only citizens were better informed. Several methodological considerations somewhat complicate the measurement of environmental policy area preferences. First, the policy preferences must be sufficiently more specific than the broader political and social orientations to which they will be linked. Second, a wide range of beliefs is required to broaden the possibilities for knowledge to have an impact. In both the United States and Japan expanded citizen involvement has been associated with anti-development, pro -environmental policy preferences. In both nations the environmental interests successfully pressed claims for additional opportunities for public involvement. Actual policy making involves trade-offs among competing uses of natural resources and the environment.
