Politicization of Science and Scientization of Politics Tornado
- Slides: 18
Politicization of Science and Scientization of Politics
Tornado Politics
Tornado Politics
Tornado Politics • How do we decide what to do?
Tornado Politics • Gather information: check the weather service, look outside, consider if this is tornado territory or not.
Tornado Politics • Shared goal • Scientific uncertainty • Cause-and-effect crucial to policy choice
Not Tornado Politics
Not Tornado Politics
Abortion Politics • Will the decision-making apparatus of Tornado Politics work for Abortion Politics? • Is there any scientific evidence that would change people’s minds on abortion?
Abortion Politics • Different goals • Scientific knowledge not relevant because… • Cause and effect not part of policy decision
Politicization of Science • Politicization is the judgment of scientific evidence according to the politics it supports or harms. • It turns Tornado Politics into Abortion Politics • Examples: – “Good science” vs “junk science” on climate – GMOs
Scientization of Politics • Scientization is the replacement of values judgments with scientific questions. • It turns Abortion Politics into Tornado Politics. • Examples: – Does abortion cause cancer? – Are homosexuals’ children more likely to attempt suicide?
The Linear Model Evidence Policy • As tempting as it seems, things don’t always work like this.
Why not the linear model • Decisions often made under uncertainty • Scientific facts don’t necessarily motivate one single policy • Overwhelming scientific consensus does not guarantee political action
Politicization of Science • If science is taken to support one and only one policy, then scientific arguments become political arguments.
Consider “Stereotype Threat” • Some have hypothesized that being the subject of stereotype can cause a specific form of test anxiety (Steele & Aronson, 1995). • This may explain, in part, certain achievement gaps.
Consider “Stereotype Threat” • Some are not sure this is a replicable effect (Flore & Wicherts, 2014) • If scientists aren’t careful, this could turn into a battle of political views, rather than scientific evidence.
What’s the answer to politicization? • Instead of using science to support or reject a single policy… • Pielke recommends offering a variety of policies consistent with the science.