Michael Thompson

Originally a professional soldier, Michael Thompson studied anthropology (first degree and PhD at University College London, B.Litt at Oxford) whi9le also following a career as a Himalayan Mountaineer. (Annapurna South Face 1970, Everest Southwest Face 1975). His early research on how something second-hand becomes an antique (Rubbish Theory, 1979, Oxford University Press) led to work on the "energy tribes" (in various western think tanks), on risk, on Himalayan deforestation and sustainable development, on household product development (in Unilever), on global climate change, on technology and development, and on what might be called "the even newer Institutionalism" (e.g., Cultural Theory, co-authored with Richard Ellis and Aaron Wildvasky, 1990, West View).

Dr. Thompson is a Fellow at the James Marin Institute for Science and Civilization, University of Oxford and a Senior Researcher at the Stein Rokkan Centre for Social Research, University of Bergen, Norway. At IIASA he is affiliated with the Risk and Vulnerability Program.


Last update: 25-SEP-2007

Shackley,S. Thompson,M. (2012)

Lost in the mix: Will the technologies of carbon dioxide capture and storage provide us with a breathing space as we strive to make the transition from fossil fuels to renewables? ... More

Thompson,M. (2012)

Limits to growth? A new perspective on certainties and validities ... More

Beck,M.B. Thompson,M. Ney,S. Gyawali,D. Jeffrey,P. (2011)

On governance for re-engineering city infrastructure ... More

Verweij,M. Ney,S. Thompson,M. (2011)

Clumsy solutions for a wicked world ... More

Verweij,M. Thompson,M. (2011)

Clumsy Solutions for a Complex World: Governance, Politics and Plural Perceptions ... More

Thompson,M. (2011)

Sustainability is an essentially contested concept (Comment) ... More

Thompson,M. (2011)

The quest for "clumsy solutions" in Nepal's mountains ... More

Gupta,J. Persson,A. Olsson,L. Linnerooth-Bayer,J. van der Grijp,N. Jerneck,A. Klein,R.J.T. Thompson,M. Patt,A. (2010)

Mainstreaming climate change in development co-operation policy: Conditions for success ... More

Thompson,M. (2008)

Clumsiness: Why isn't it as easy as falling off a log? ... More

Thompson,M. (2008)

Organising and Disorganising. A Dynamic and Non-Linear Theory of Institutional Emergence and Its Implication ... More

Thompson,M. Warburton,M. Hatley,T. (2007)

Uncertainty: On a Himalayan Scale ... More

Verweij,M. Douglas,M. Ellis,R.J. Engel,C. Hendriks,F. Lohmann,S. Ney,S. Rayner,S. Thompson,M. (2006)

Clumsy solutions for a complex world: The case of climate change ... More

Linnerooth-Bayer,J. Vari,A. Thompson,M. (2006)

Floods and fairness in Hungary ... More

Verweij,M. Thompson,M. (2006)

Clumsy Solutions for a Complex World: Governance, Politics and Plural Perceptions ... More

Thompson,M. (2005)

Visions of the future ... More

Thompson,M. (2004)

Zementierte Zukunftvisionen (Visions of the future made concrete) ... More

Thompson,M. Price,M.F. (2002)

In praise of clumsiness: Understanding man and nature as a single but complex system ... More

Thompson,M. (2002)

Man and nature as a single but complex system ... More

Adams,J. Thompson,M. (2002)

Taking Account of Societal Concerns About Risk: Framing the Problem ... More

Dake,K. Thompson,M. (1999)

Making ends meet, in the household and on the planet ... More

Schwarz,M. Thompson,M. (1999)

Human choice and climate change: Introducing the reflexive policymaker and the responsive citizen ... More

Rayner,S. Malone,E.L. Thompson,M. (1999)

Equity issues and integrated assessment ... More

Schwarz,M. Thompson,M. (1999)

Human choice and climate change: Introducing the reflexive policymaker and the responsive citizen ... More

Rayner,S. Malone,E.L. Thompson,M. (1999)

Equity issues and integrated assessment ... More

Ney,S. Thompson,M. (1999)

Consulting the frogs: The normative implications of cultural theory ... More

Thompson,M. Grendstad,G. Selle,P. (1999)

Cultural Theory as Political Science ... More

Thompson,M. Rayner,S. Ney,S. (1998)

Risk and governance part II: Policy in a complex and plurally perceived world ... More

Thompson,M. (1998)

Global networks and local cultures: What are the mismatches and what can be done about them? ... More

Douglas,M. Gasper,D. Ney,S. Thompson,M. (1998)

Human needs and wants ... More

Thompson,M. (1997)

Cultural theory and integrated assessment ... More

Thompson,M. (1997)

Security and solidarity: An anti-reductionist framework for thinking about the relationship between us and the rest of nature ... More

Price,M.F. Thompson,M. (1997)

The complex life: Human land uses in mountain ecosystems ... More

Thompson,M. Trisoglio,A. (1997)

Managing the unmanageable ... More

Ellis,R.J. Thompson,M. (1997)

Culture Matters: Essays in Honor of Aaron Wildavsky ... More

Thompson,M. Gyawali,D. (1997)

Trans-boundary Risk Management: A Comparative Example from the South ... More

Thompson,M. (1997)

Security and Solidarity ... More

Thompson,M. (1997)

The New World Disorder: Is Environmental Security the Cure? ... More

Thompson,M. (1996)

Unsiteability: What should it tell us? ... More

Thompson,M. (1996)

Cultural theory is a theory ... More

Thompson,M. (1996)

Good Science for Public Policy ... More

Thompson,M. (1996)

Inherent Relationality: An Anti-Dualist Approach to Institutions ... More

Grauer,M. Thompson,M. Wierzbicki,A.P. (1985)

Plural Rationality and Interactive Decision Processes; Proceedings of an IIASA Summer Study on Plural Rationality and Interactive Decision Processes, Sopron, Hungary, August 16-26, 1984 ... More

Thompson,M. (1984)

The Cultural Construction of Nature and the Natural Destruction of Culture ... More

Thompson,M. Warburton,M. (1984)

Knowing Where To Hit It: A Conceptual Framework for the Sustainable Development of the Himalayas ... More

Thompson,M. (1983)

Planning and Anti-Planning: 2 Sides of a Counterfeit Coin ... More

Douglas,J. Douglas,M. Thompson,M. (1983)

Social Choice and Cultural Bias ... More

Thompson,M. (1982)

Among the Energy Tribes: The Anthropology of the Current Policy Debate ... More

Thompson,M. (1981)

Beyond Self-Interest, a Cultural Analysis of a Risk Debate ... More

Thompson,M. (1980)

An Outline of the Cultural Theory of Risk ... More

Thompson,M. (1980)

Political Culture: An Introduction ... More

Thompson,M. (1980)

The Social Landscape of Poverty ... More

Bailey,N.T.J. Thompson,M. (1975)

Systems Aspects of Health Planning ... More

Thompson,M. (1975)

Systems Analysis for the Evaluation of Bio-Medical Research ... More

Ponssard,J.-P. Thompson,M. Glass,N. (1975)

The Tragedy of Strategy ... More

Thompson,M. (1975)

Road Safety Research in the Perspective of Policy Analysis ... More

Thompson,M. (1974)

A Study of Research and Development in Environmental Engineering Using System Approach ... More