Why do politicians and civil servants commission research, and what use do they make
of it in policymaking? The received wisdom is that research contributes to improving
government policy. Christina Boswell challenges this view, arguing that policymakers
are just as likely to value expert knowledge for two alternative reasons: as a way
of lending authority to their preferences; or to signal their capacity to make sound
decisions. Boswell develops a compelling new theory of the role of knowledge in policy,
showing how policymakers use research to establish authority in contentious and risky
areas of policy. She illustrates her argument with an analysis of European immigration
policies, charting the ways in which expertise becomes a resource for lending
credibility to controversial claims, underpinning high-risk decisions or bolstering
the credibility of government agencies. This book will make fascinating reading for
those interested in the interface between policymaking, academic research and political
legitimacy.

http://www.amazon.com/Political-Uses-Expert-Knowledge-Immigration/dp/0521517419

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