Uncertainty in Policy Making: Values and Evidence in Complex Decisions [Science in Society Series].

Heazle, Michael; Pillar, Paul R. (foreword).

ISBN 10: 184971083X / ISBN 13: 9781849710831

Editore: Earthscan Publications, London, 2010

Riguardo questo articolo

Hardback octavo, no jacket as issued, pictorial cover, very good condition. 185 pp. Michael Heazle explores how uncertainty is interpreted and used by policy makers, experts and politicians. It argues that conventional notions of rational, evidence-based policy making - hailed by governments and organisations across the world as the only way to make good policy - is impossible in highly complex and uncertain environments. The blind pursuit of such a rational goal is in fact irrational in a world of competing values and interests. Based on two high-profile case studies: the Iraq War, and climate change policy in the US, UK and Australia. Based on three years' research - including interviews with experts such as Hans Blix, Paul Pillar and Brian Jones. Both case studies show that treatment of uncertainty issues in specialist advice is often determined by how well the advice fits with or contradicts the policy goals and orientation of the politicians. One should not allow the debate to be side-tracked by arguments over whose expert advice is "more right". We must accept that uncertainty in complex issues is unavoidable, and recognise the values and interests that lie at the heart of the issues. Offers a hedging approach; this enables policy makers to manage rather than eliminate uncertainty.

Codice articolo 14256

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Uncertainty in Policy Making: Values and Evidence in Complex Decisions [Science in Society Series].
• Editore: Earthscan Publications, London
• Data di pubblicazione: 2010
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 184971083X
• ISBN 13: 9781849710831
• Rilegatura: Rilegato
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • SOCIETY & SOCIOLOGY

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Uncertainty in Policy Making explores how uncertainty is interpreted and used by policy makers, experts and politicians. It argues that conventional notions of rational, evidence-based policy making - hailed by governments and organisations across the world as the only way to make good policy - is an impossible aim in highly complex and uncertain environments; the blind pursuit of such a 'rational' goal is in fact irrational in a world of competing values and interests.

The book centres around two high-profile and important case studies: the Iraq war and climate change policy in the US, UK and Australia. Based on three years' research, including interviews with experts such as Hans Blix, Paul Pillar, and Brian Jones, these two case studies show that the treatment of uncertainty issues in specialist advice is largely determined by how well the advice fits with or contradicts the policy goals and orientation of the policy elite. Instead of allowing the debates to be side-tracked by arguments over whose science or expert advice is 'more right', we must accept that uncertainty in complex issues is unavoidable and recognise the values and interests that lie at the heart of the issues. The book offers a 'hedging' approach which will enable policy makers to manage rather than eliminate uncertainty.

Informazioni sull?autore

Michael Heazle is Associate Professor in International Relations with the Griffith Asia Institute and the Department of International Business and Asian Studies at Griffith University