The political uses of expert knowledge : immigration policy and social research /
Boswell, Christina, 1972-
The political uses of expert knowledge : immigration policy and social research / Christina Boswell. - Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2009. - 1 online resource (viii, 272 pages)
Includes bibliographical references (pages 252-267) and index.
The political functions of knowledge -- The puzzle : explaning the uses of knowledge -- Instrumental knowledge and organizational legitimacy -- The symbolic functions of knowledge -- The use of knowledge in public policy debates -- The case of immigration policy -- The politics of immigration in germany and the uk -- The British Home Office -- The German Federal Office for Migration -- The European Commission -- organizations and cultures of expertise -- Extending the theory -- Knowledge and policy.
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.
English.
9780511580802 (electronic bk.) 0511580800 (electronic bk.) 9780511581120 (electronic bk.) 0511581122 (electronic bk.) 0521517419 9780521517416 9780511578557 0511578555 9781107404410 (paperback) 110740441X 0511698585 9780511698583 1107191386 9781107191389 1282303007 9781282303003 9786612303005 661230300X 0511580487 9780511580482 0511579292 9780511579295 0511580037 9780511580031
Emigration and immigration--Research--European Union countries.
Political planning--European Union countries.
Policy sciences--Case studies.
Knowledge, Sociology of--Case studies.
Émigration et immigration--Recherche--Pays de l'Union européenne.
Politique publique--Pays de l'Union européenne.
Sciences de la politique--Études de cas.
Sociologie de la connaissance--Études de cas.
SOCIAL SCIENCE--Emigration & Immigration.
Emigration and immigration--Government policy.
Emigration and immigration--Research.
Knowledge, Sociology of.
Policy sciences.
Political planning.
Invandrare--forskning--EU-länderna.
European Union countries--Emigration and immigration--Government policy.
Pays de l'Union européenne--Émigration et immigration--Politique gouvernementale.
European Union countries.
Electronic books.
Case studies.
JV7590 / .B69 2009eb
325.4
The political uses of expert knowledge : immigration policy and social research / Christina Boswell. - Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2009. - 1 online resource (viii, 272 pages)
Includes bibliographical references (pages 252-267) and index.
The political functions of knowledge -- The puzzle : explaning the uses of knowledge -- Instrumental knowledge and organizational legitimacy -- The symbolic functions of knowledge -- The use of knowledge in public policy debates -- The case of immigration policy -- The politics of immigration in germany and the uk -- The British Home Office -- The German Federal Office for Migration -- The European Commission -- organizations and cultures of expertise -- Extending the theory -- Knowledge and policy.
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.
English.
9780511580802 (electronic bk.) 0511580800 (electronic bk.) 9780511581120 (electronic bk.) 0511581122 (electronic bk.) 0521517419 9780521517416 9780511578557 0511578555 9781107404410 (paperback) 110740441X 0511698585 9780511698583 1107191386 9781107191389 1282303007 9781282303003 9786612303005 661230300X 0511580487 9780511580482 0511579292 9780511579295 0511580037 9780511580031
Emigration and immigration--Research--European Union countries.
Political planning--European Union countries.
Policy sciences--Case studies.
Knowledge, Sociology of--Case studies.
Émigration et immigration--Recherche--Pays de l'Union européenne.
Politique publique--Pays de l'Union européenne.
Sciences de la politique--Études de cas.
Sociologie de la connaissance--Études de cas.
SOCIAL SCIENCE--Emigration & Immigration.
Emigration and immigration--Government policy.
Emigration and immigration--Research.
Knowledge, Sociology of.
Policy sciences.
Political planning.
Invandrare--forskning--EU-länderna.
European Union countries--Emigration and immigration--Government policy.
Pays de l'Union européenne--Émigration et immigration--Politique gouvernementale.
European Union countries.
Electronic books.
Case studies.
JV7590 / .B69 2009eb
325.4