The Unfolding Regulator–Regulatee Relationship

The regulator–regulatee relationship in the context of safety-critical systems is under constant evolution. It changes with epochs. Our current epoch is one faced with increasingly global challenges. It has not always been so, but increasingly is. In this introduction, the presentation of the chapters of this book is preceded by a historical perspective which situates the advent of many important regulatory innovations and trends (e.g., polycentric, smart, meta, or risk-based regulations). These innovations and trends are variously interpreted, from either practical, critical, or more neutral angles. This introduction explains the rationales of these different points of view. Next, an example of regulation of hazardous organisations in France is shortly described to illustrate the trends discussed. It provides a short empirical case study. The chapters of the book are then summarised, covering a diversity of related themes, from polycentric to responsive regulations, through an attention to social interactions to the game-changing reality of global warming.