STATE AUTONOMY AND DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY - THE POLITICS OF HAZARDOUS-WASTE POLICY

This article explores the nature and extent of state autonomy and demo cratic accountability through a case study of Minnesota's attempt, fro m the late 1970s to 1990, to site a hazardous waste disposal facility. The study focuses in particular on the development of elite policy ne tworks and efforts by citizens to control them. Drawing upon the disti nction between state autonomy and capacity, the author argues that cit izens have the ability to curb the state's capacity, i.e., the state's ability to implement its plans, but have limited opportunities and re sources to influence the shape and direction of policy.