A New Approach to Organizations: Stability and Transformation in Dark Social Networks

Public consent for the geologic disposal of highly radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel

“…This discovery by DOE of a successful path culminated in the opening of its Transuranic repository in New Mexico, the first geological repository licensed for nuclear wastes in the world [2]. Excluding the public from government decisions promotes the misallocation of resources [30]. Through no fault of its own, this is a lesson that DOE is relearning with the failure of Yucca Mountain [128], but it is also a lesson for other nations.…”

“…Contrasting WIPP with Yucca Mountain, involving the public leads to better outcomes for social welfare [11], mitigates corruption [30], accelerates cleanup [25] and improves the practices of scientists [51]. This discovery by DOE of a successful path culminated in the opening of its Transuranic repository in New Mexico, the first geological repository licensed for nuclear wastes in the world [2].…”

“…Worse, predictions made with traditional game and social theory are unsatisfactory [30]. Instead, to improve social welfare, our mathematical replacement for game theory [13] derives from centres of competition that generate and process information into public knowledge, from centres of cooperation (organizations) that apply the knowledge gained, and by neutrals who decide whether the knowledge gained is a social benefit [13].…”

“…Without the competition afforded by checks and balances overseen by citizens, self-regulated government agencies like DOE in the past and governments like China today seem unable to prevent corruption despite their intentions [134]. This applies also to business monopolies [135], religions under self-rule [136], the administration of national security [137] and criminal gangs [30]. For the self-ruled DOE before 1985, this had meant making false claims about its environmental stewardship to the US Congress coupled with requests for appropriations [51], money that filtered down to DOE managers who in turn corrupted the practices of its scientists and engineers by funding only the research that would produce the proof they needed to control Congress.…”

“…But while polarization between the drivers of an argument reduces the likelihood that a rational worldview can ever be recovered [13], it increases learning [28]. When working well, majority factions are unstable [29], yet, by exploring all options and the results, majority decisions are stable [30]. Consider the 2011 tsunami in Japan.…”