integration of scientific and political elites

Dr. Shahram Yazdani

Integration of Scientific and Political Elites

Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesSchool of Medical Education

Strategic Policy Sessions: 17

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Definitions

Research: “any systematic effort to increase the stock of knowledge”

Policy: a “purposive course of action followed by an actor or set of actors”

Evidence: “the available information supporting or otherwise a belief or proposition”

Evidence-based Policy: “public policy informed by rigorously established evidence”.

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Policy Processes

Identify the problem

Commission research

Analyse the results

Choose the best option

Establish the policy

Evaluation

Implement the policy

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Monitoring and Evaluation

Agenda Setting

DecisionMaking

Policy Implementation

Policy Formulation

Policy Processes

Civil Society

DonorsCabinet

Parliament

Ministries

Private Sector

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Different Notions of Evidence

• Colloquial (Contextual)

• Anything that seems reasonable

• Policy relevant

• Timely

• Clear Message

Policy Makers’ Evidence

Source: Phil Davies Impact to Insight Meeting, ODI, 2005

• ‘Scientific’ (Context free)

• Proven empirically

• Theoretically driven

• As long as it takes

• Caveats and qualifications

Researchers’ Evidence

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Existing theory1. Linear model2. Percolation model, Weiss3. Tipping point model, Gladwell4. ‘Context, evidence, links’

framework, ODI5. Policy narratives, Roe6. Systems model (NSI)7. External forces, Lindquist8. ‘Room for manoeuvre’, Clay &

Schaffer9. ‘Street level bureaucrats’, Lipsky10. Policy as social experiments,

Rondinelli11. Policy Streams & Windows,

Kingdon12. Disjointed incrementalism,

Lindquist13. The ‘tipping point’, Gladwell14. Crisis model, Kuhn15. ‘Framework of possible thought’,

Chomsky16. Variables for Credibility, Beach

17. The source is as important as content, Gladwell

18. Linear model of communication, Shannon

19. Interactive model, 20. Simple and surprising stories,

Communication Theory21. Provide solutions, Marketing I22. Find the right packaging, Marketing

II23. Elicit a response, Kottler24. Translation of technology, Volkow25. Epistemic communities26. Policy communities27. Advocacy coalitions etc, Pross28. Negotiation through networks,

Sebattier29. Shadow networks, Klickert30. Chains of accountability, Fine31. Communication for social change,

Rockefeller32. Wheels and webs, Chapman &

Fisher

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A Practical Framework

External Influences political context

evidencelinks

Politics and Policymaking

Media, Advocacy, Networking Research,

learning & thinking

Scientific information exchange & validation

Policy analysis, & research

Campaigning, Lobbying

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Dr. Shahram Yazdani 8

Audience Decision-Maker Research Needs

Industrial

Clinical

Administrative

Legislative

Company ScientistCorporate ExecutiveVenture Capitalist

PractitionerProfessional Society

Expert Panel Member

Program ManagerRegional Administrator

Hospital Executive

Marketable Product

EffectivenessEthics

Patient Preference

Program EvaluationPractice VariationCost-Effectiveness

Problem DefinitionAffirmation of Assumed Causes

Policy Ideas

Range of Research Needs

PoliticianBureaucrat

Interest Groups

Jonathan Lomas. Improving Research Dissemination and Uptake in the Health Sector: Beyond the Sound of One Hand Clapping. 1997.

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Industrial

Clinical

Administrative

Legislative



Expert Panel Member


Hospital Executive

Marketable Product

EffectivenessEthics

Patient Preference



Policy Ideas


Interest Groups

Biomedical, Information- Technology Research

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Industrial

Clinical

Administrative

Legislative



Expert Panel Member


Hospital Executive

Marketable Product

EffectivenessEthics

Patient Preference



Policy Ideas


Interest Groups

Clinical Research

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Industrial

Clinical

Administrative

Legislative



Expert Panel Member


Hospital Executive

Marketable Product

EffectivenessEthics

Patient Preference



Policy Ideas


Interest Groups

Health Services Research

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Industrial

Clinical

Administrative

Legislative



Expert Panel Member


Hospital Executive

Marketable Product

EffectivenessEthics

Patient Preference



Policy Ideas


Interest Groups

Health Policy Analysis

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Is there a gap?

Research Policy

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Is there a gap?

Res

earc

hP

olicy

Technocratic networks

Ideological think tanks

Internal think tanks

UN Think tanks

Public think tanks

Political parties

Lobbies

NGOs

corporations

Universities

Regulatory bodies

Executive

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Integration of Scientific & Political Elites

Scientific Elite Pool

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Political Elite Pool

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Weak Integration: Toward Populism

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Strong Integration: Toward Elitism

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Differentiated Civil Society Organizations

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What is a think tank?

•Knowledge-based, policy-oriented institutions•Serve governments, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society •Generate policy-oriented research, analysis, and advice on domestic and international issues •Engage policymakers, ,the media and the public on key policy issues•Enable policymakers and the public to make informed decisions about public policy issues

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Recent Think Tank Trends

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A Brief History of American Think Tanks

First generation: think tanks as policy research institutions Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1910) Institute for Government Research (1916, Brookings) Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace (1919) Council on Foreign Relations (1921) American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (1943)

Second generation: the emergence of government contractors RAND Corporation (1948) Hudson Institute (1961) Urban Institute (1968)

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A Brief History (continued)

The third generation: the rise of advocacy think tanks Center for Strategic and International Studies (1962) Heritage Foundation (1973) CATO Institute (1977)

The fourth generation: legacy-based think tanks Carter Center (1984) Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom (1994)

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Global Dispersion of Think TanksThere are currently 6,976 Think Tanks worldwide

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Three Kinds of Think Tanks

“University without students:” Quality academic research; focus on long-term impact;

research fellow like professors Examples: Brookings, AEI, Carnegie Endowment

Government contractors Funded by government department / agencies; address

specific concerns of policy-makers Examples: RAND, Urban Institute

Advocacy think tanks Research plus aggressive marketing; actively

participate in policy debate Heritage, CATO

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University without Students: Brookings Institution

“The Brookings Institution is an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to research, analysis, education, and publication focused on public policy issues in the areas of economics, foreign policy, and governance.”

3 Programs: economy, government, foreign policy; 6 policy centers

Rigorous academic research

Close relation with federal government

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Government Contractor: RAND Corporation

Mission: “RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis.”

More than 1,600 full- and part-time employees, (85% research staff hold advanced degrees, with >65% having Ph.D's or M.D.'s. )

Research areas: Child Policy, Civil and Criminal Justice, Regional Studies, Drug Policy, Education, Health, Infrastructure, International Policy, National Security, Population & Aging, Science & Technology, Terrorism

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Advocacy Think Tanks: Heritage Foundation

Mission: “formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.”

“The Foundation produces research and generates solutions consistent with its beliefs that are marketed to the Congress, the Executive Branch, the news media and others”

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Types of Analysis

Scientific search for truth and build theory about policy

actions and effects may be too theoretical for most decision

makers examples: academic social scientists,

National Academy of Sciences

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Types of Analysis (cont’d)

Professional analyze alternatives to solve problems goal is for practical value research can be too narrow due to time or

resource constraints examples: Brookings Institution, American

Enterprise Institute, General Accountability Office

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Types of Analysis (cont’d)

Political advocate and support preferred policies often ideological or partisan; may lack

analytical depth examples: Sierra Club, AFL-CIO, Heritage

Foundation

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To achieve what?

Discursive changes

Procedural changes

Content changes

Attitudinal changes

Behavioural changes

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Idea Producer or Broker?

Heritage Foundation Expenses, 2002

Brookings Institution Expenses, 2002

Research (40%)

Educational Programs (21%)

Media & Government Relations (20%)

Fundraising (16%)

Management & General (3%)

Economic Studies (37%)

Foreign Policy Studies (17%)

Governance Studies (15%)

CPPE (11%)

Publications (10%)

External Affairs (6%)

Communications (4%)

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Outlets of Think Tanks’ Works

Books, journal articles Monographs, reports, occasional papers Short pieces of policy brief Op-ed pieces

Other informal channels Conferences, panel discussions Policy training programs Media appearance

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The Top Think Tanks for 2009

Brookings Top Think Tank (US) Fraser Institute (Canada and Mexico) Chatham House, (Western Europe) Carnegie Moscow Center (Eastern and

Central Europe)

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Fundación Getulio Vargas, (Latin America)

Carnegie Middle East Center, (Middle East)

South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), (Southern Africa)

Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) (Asia)

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Overseas Development Institute (Int’l Devleopment)

Harvard School of Public Health Dept of Health Policy (Health Policy)

Pew Center on Global Climate Change, (Enviornment)

Council on Foreign Relations (Security and International Affairs)

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Brookings Institution (Domestic Economics)

Peterson Institute for International Economics, (International Economics)

Urban Institute (Social Policy) RAND (Science and Technology)

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Brookings Institution (Innovative Policy Proposal)

European Council on Foreign Relations (Best New Think Tank)

Brookings Institution (Best Policy Research Program)

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Best Use of the Internet)

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Amnesty International (Best Use of the Print and Electronic Media)

Center for American Progress (Most impact on Policy)

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Chatham House, UK (Top TT World-Non US)

Brookings Top Think Tank (World)

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Funding Sources: Brookings (FY2002)

2%

2%

8%

9%

30%

49%

Miscellaneous

Government

Publications

CPPE

Endowment

Gifts and Grants

Total Revenue: $40,678,000

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Funding Sources: RAND (FY2002)

0%

2%

2%

3%

3%

90%

Other

Contributions

Assets releasedfrom restrictions

Fees

Income / gains oninvestments

Contracts andgrants

Total Income: $186,808,000

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Funding Sources: Heritage (FY2002)

1%

3%

3%

7%

27%

59%

Investment Income

Publications / Others

Bequests

Corporations

Foundation Grants

Individuals

Total Income: $27,539,833

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The Revolving Door between Government and Think Tanks: Examples from USA

Three secretaries in the Clinton administration landed at Brookings

Think tank alumnus in Bush administration Rice (HI), Chao (HF), Haass (BI), Perle (AEI)

President’s economic advisors: Larry Lindsey (AEI), Glen Hubbard (AEI) Martin Baily (BI, IIE), Gene Sperling (BI), Laura Tyson (IIE), Robert

Lawrence (BI, IIE), Joseph Stiglitz (BI) William Niskanen (Cato), { M. Boskin (HI), M. Feldstein (NBER) } Charles Schultz (BI), Arthur Okun (BI)

Others: Alan Blinder (BI), Alice Rivlin(BI)

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Political Elites vs.The Statecraft Interpretation

Political elite = party leaders, their political advisers + top civil servants

Statecraft: ‘the art of winning elections and achieving some necessary degree of governing competence in office’ (Bulpitt, 1986: 21)

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Statecraft Functions

A Winning Electoral Strategy

Party Management

Political Argument Hegemony: ‘a winning rhetoric in a variety of locations winning because either the framework of the party’s arguments becomes generally acceptable, or because its solutions to a particularly important political problem seem more plausible than its opponents’ (Bulpitt, 1986: 22).

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The Need for Depoliticization of Policy Process

Depoliticisation: ‘…the process of placing at one remove the political character of decision-making’ (Burnham, 2001: 127).

E.g. Operational independence to the Bank of England (1997)

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Thank You !

Any Question ?

integration of scientific and political elites

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