Work in progress Do Protesting Citizens Hinder Progress? Ten Years of Public Facility Siting in a Big City Area.

1 It is the responsibility of Government to maintain and renew societal infrastructure. This means that key elements of a well functioning society like energy facilities, transport systems, waste facilities, health care institutions, educational institutions, facilities for the care of special needs individuals, and detention centers for those convicted of serious crimes must be sited in specific localities in the political territory. When such facilities are sited, small groups of citizens disproportionately feel the direct and indirect effects through changes in the local environment and economy, and the presence of new risks. A viable democratic government must find ways to motivate affected citizens to accept that facilities are sited in their particular neighbourhood. Social science research has approached this important topic from certain perspectives: First, as illustrated by often used acronyms NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) and LULU