Creating a Broader Political Center for Science and Policy

• Published in: Social research Vol. 73; no. 3; pp. 1049 - 1056
• Main Author: Smith, Philip M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Science, New School for Social Research 01.10.2006; Johns Hopkins University Press; New School for Social Research
• Subjects: Ability; Academic Disciplines; Climate change; Climate change policy; Communities; Congressional committees; Congressional investigations; Decades; Decision making; Discovery; Elections; Federal funding; Genetic research; Government; Government Policy; Government Spending; Kidnapping; Leadership; Military art and science; Military science; National security; Persuasion; Polarization; Policy Making; Political aspects; Political leadership; Political Parties; Politicians; Politics; R&D; Religiosity; Research & development; Research universities; Right wing groups; Right Wing Politics; Roundtable Discussion; Schism; Scientific Community; Scientific Discoveries; Scientific research; Scientists; Slavery; Stem cells; United States of America; Universities; University research; War; Wars; World War II; World wars; Youth; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0037-783X; 1944-768X; 1944-768X
• DOI: 10.1353/sor.2006.0069

There was until the middle of the twentieth century a comparatively great distance between science & government in the United States. During & following World War II, a political consensus on federal funding for research & on the use of informed science to guide policymaking for science support was achieved, & it remains strong & bipartisan, But schisms & tensions affecting both the support of science & the use of science in policy have grown in the last two decades, for five interconnected reasons. First is the rate of scientific discovery, which in all disciplines is proceeding at an astounding pace. Second, there is a great polarization of the two political parties & of politics. Third, while we separate religion & government under the Constitution, the party presently in power has trafficked in blurring this separation & has pandered to an electoral base of Republicans who are religiously at the "far right" in terms of the religiosity of all Americans. Fourth, the economy is not as robust as politicians & optimistic economists try to persuade. The fifth contributing factor to the present relation between science & government-for the direction of research & the use of science in policymaking-is the devaluing of science & scientific advice by President George W. Bush's administration. These five factors-there are undoubtedly others-together create political gridlock in Washington. I believe the political center can be expanded but I also believe that the science community itself must take a vigorous leadership role in working to expand this center. I would also say that is very important for us to connect with the young people of the nation & the world, not just budding scientists & engineers but all young people. Adapted from the source document.