Biotechnology in Switzerland - Frames in a heated debate

The public debate over biotechnology has been especially intense in Switzerland. The frame theory is introduced as a promising approach for better understanding this controversy. One shortcoming of current frame research is the diversity of frame typologies. An attempt to compare and integrate several frame typologies is presented. The theoretical analysis suggests that most of the frames are not issue specific but of a more general nature. The empirical section presents the framing of biotechnology over the past thirty years, during which increasing conflicts paralleled a higher diversity of frames in the media.