Assignment

SCENARIO:

You are a junior minister in the transport ministry of a liberal democratic state. Your government has received proposals for the expansion of a large airport which has already attracted protests from local residents. You live in the area yourself, and often have your sleep interrupted by overflying aircraft. You are also vaguely uneasy about the possible impact of the extra flights on climate change. But the airport already brings significant economic advantages to the country, and if the expansion does not go ahead it is certain that traffic will move to another country: there is no suitable alternative site in your own. Your government has declared itself to be open-minded on this issue; it will be swayed by the quality of the arguments on both sides.

You are being kept awake by noisy planes on the night before a visit from two deputies,, from supporters and opponents of the airport expansion. You have to give a press conference after the meetings, and you will have to give a broad indication of the government's attitude to the proposal. On the basis of the information already given, what considerations might be running through your head?

Below are the questions that you need to take into account before giving a press conference:

1. What would be the impact on the country's economy if the expansion did not go ahead?

2. Would the expansion produce a step change in the country's existing environmental 'footprint'? Or would the additional damage be relatively small, in statistical terms? Explain.

3. How 'media-friendly' are the advocates on each side? If one side fails to convince you with rational argument, but is well-versed in putting its case to the media either through interviews or spectacular stunts, are you prepared to ride out the ensuing storm? Explain.

4. Is the airport in an area where your party holds several marginal seats which could return an opposition candidate if the expansion goes ahead? Explain.

5. Are the local economic benefits (as opposed to the national ones) strong enough to outweigh the arguments of local protestors? Explain.

6. Is your own constituency close to the airport? (Remember, you are kept awake by flights.) If so, what is the balance of opinion about the expansion within your own constituency?

Helpful Hints:

The main point here is that, for government ministers in a globalized economy, anticipated financial benefits are likely to be the determining political factor. Environmental factors usually come second. The likely repercussions in the national media are likely to be treated more seriously than the views of local people. As a minister, are you going to put the views of your own constituents on the backbench?