Decision-making when public opinion matters

Abstract

Topological concepts are applied to the description of decision-making when support for the resulting policy is an important criterion. Using the example of governmental decisions concerning construction of a nuclear energy plant in West Germany, a model is developed that describes how certain input or control factors (need for energy and danger of nuclear technology) can combine to produce discontinuous (e.g. reversals) or divergent (e.g. developing opposing positions from a common starting point) policy decisions.