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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... | 30000010328956 | Q175.5 G78 2012 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
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Summary
Summary
It is often said that knowledge is power, but more often than not relevant knowledge is not used when political decisions are made. This book examines how political decisions relate to scientific knowledge and what factors determine the success of scientific research in influencing policy. The authors take a comparative and historical perspective and refer to well-known theoretical frameworks, but the focus of the book is on three case studies: the discourse of racism, Keynesianism and climate change. These cases cover a number of countries and different time periods. In all three the authors see a close link between 'knowledge producers' and political decision makers, but show that the effectiveness of the policies varies dramatically. This book will be of interest to scientists, decision makers and scholars alike.
Reviews 1
Choice Review
This book by Grundmann (Nottingham Univ., UK) and Stehr (Zeppelin Univ., Germany) illustrates the importance of political and cultural forces in policy making. Scientists have power because they help set agendas, influence belief systems, and legitimatize decisions. However, the authors challenge the idea that science produces true, objective knowledge that policy makers can use to make the right decisions. In three separate chapters, they study empirical data on Keynesian economics, race science, and climate change to document the power of knowledge within political decision making. Keynesian economics produces practical knowledge that is only applied under favorable political environments. Race science is an example of when cultural or ideological perspectives turn scientific knowledge into action. In terms of climate, the lack of consensus on the issue has resulted in failure to generate solutions for climate change; the authors assert that the entire problem of climate change is beyond the explanatory power of climate science. They distinguish between knowledge of practice, knowledge with a potential for application, and practical knowledge--knowledge that is a means of action. Practical knowledge is necessary to influence policy making though it is not self-perpetuating. Overall, this scholarly work is not particularly inspiring or transformative, but it may be useful for policy makers. Summing Up: Recommended. Professionals/practitioners. W. K. Bauchspies Georgia Institute of Technology
Table of Contents
| Preface |
| 1 Introduction |
| 2 The savior of capitalism: the power of economic discourse |
| 3 The mentors of the Holocaust and the power of race science |
| 4 Protectors of nature: the power of climate change research |
| 5 Conclusion |
| Bibliography |
