The contributors to this insightful and original volume argue that across the western world in general, the political expert occupies as important a role today as at any time in the past. The ubiquity of information and the fact that the experts and the organizations to which they are affiliated may be viewed as having an ideological agenda has not diminished their role, influence or status. Governments and the media still rely on them for information and advice whilst organizations in civil society need them in order to provide the evidence, arguments and policy recommendations that are essential to having a voice in the public conversation.
Autorentext
Stephen Brooks is Professor at the University of Windsor and Director of the Ottawa Internship Program at the University of Michigan.
Zusammenfassung
In the world of Wikipedia, blogging and citizen journalism where huge masses of information and the capability to disseminate opinions, thoughts and ideas is available at the click of a mouse what is the role and impact of political experts? The contributors to this insightful and original volume argue that across the western world in general, the political expert occupies as important a role today as at any time in the past. The ubiquity of information and the fact that the experts and the organizations to which they are affiliated may be viewed as having an ideological agenda has not diminished their role, influence or status. Governments and the media still rely on them for information and advice whilst organizations in civil society need them in order to provide the evidence, arguments and policy recommendations that are essential to having a voice in the public conversation. By examining how these policy experts and their think tanks continue to exert influence across a range of modern western democracies a better understanding of the role of policy expertise and an examination of how it may develop and evolve throughout the rest of the world is reached.
Inhalt
Introduction; Part I Theoretical Issues; Chapter 1 Theoretical Models and Approaches to Understanding the Role of Lobbies and Think Tanks in US Foreign Policy, Donald E.Abelson; Chapter 2 The Political Expert, Tomasz?yro; Chapter 3 Can the Philosopher Be a Political Expert?, MaciejSadowski; Chapter 4 Deliberating Experts Versus Political Representation, WinfriedThaa; Chapter 5 Speaking Truth to Power, StephenBrooks; Part II National Cases; Chapter 6 Do Policy Experts Matter? Lessons from Canada and the United States, Donald E.Abelson; Chapter 7 The Canadian Think Tank Scene, JaniceMackinnon; Chapter 8 Expert Policy Advice in Germany, Martin W.Thunert; Chapter 9 Determinants of German Think Tanks' Public Policy Roles, JosefBraml; Chapter 10 Political Expertise in Poland in the Field of Foreign Policy and the Emergence of Think Tanks, JacekCzaputowicz, DorotaStasiak;