Uncertainty in Policy Making - Values and Evidence in Complex Decisions (Hardcover)

Uncertainty in Policy Making explores how uncertainty is interpreted and used by policy makers, experts and politicians. It argues that conventional notions of rational, evidence-based policy making - hailed by governments and organisations across the world as the only way to make good policy - is an impossible aim in highly complex and uncertain environments; the blind pursuit of such a 'rational' goal is in fact irrational in a world of competing values and interests. The book centres around two high-profile and important case studies: the Iraq war and climate change policy in the US, UK and Australia. Based on three years' research, including interviews with experts such as Hans Blix, Paul Pillar, and Brian Jones, these two case studies show that the treatment of uncertainty issues in specialist advice is largely determined by how well the advice fits with or contradicts the policy goals and orientation of the policy elite. Instead of allowing the debates to be side-tracked by arguments over whose science or expert advice is 'more right', we must accept that uncertainty in complex issues is unavoidable and recognise the values and interests that lie at the heart of the issues. The book offers a 'hedging' approach which will enable policy makers to manage rather than eliminate uncertainty.

General

Imprint:	Earthscan
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	The Earthscan Science in Society Series
Release date:	September 2010
First published:	2010
Authors:	Michael Heazle
Foreword by:	Paul Pillar
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 21mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	204
ISBN-13:	978-1-84971-083-1
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Central government > Central government policies Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > International relations > General Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Pollution & threats to the environment > Global warming Books > Humanities > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 > General Books > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history
LSN:	1-84971-083-X
Barcode:	9781849710831

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