Science and politics have collaborated throughout human history, and today science is repeatedly invoked in policy debates, from pandemic management to climate change.
Prominent political analyst Geoff Mulgan here draws attention to the growing friction caused by the growing – and unsolicited – authority exercised over science. As science increasingly competes with politics, there is an urgent need to develop a defined plan for cooperation.
Mulgan describes science and politics as two distinct and imperfect forms of collective intelligence. While science is about what we know and what is out there, politics is about how we feel and what matters. Politics works because it recognizes the limits of power, the need for delegation and expert advice. The intellectual logic of science, on the other hand, focuses on detail and depth, striving to situate its knowledge in broader contexts. The crux of the problem, according to Mulgan, is how can we ensure that crucial decisions made in democracies are both well-informed and legitimate?
Grounded in the understanding that science and policy are not only fields of ideas but also fields of action, this book offers ways to ensure that the two work effectively together.
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