Knowledge for environmental governance: probing science–policy theory in the cases of eutrophication and fisheries in the Baltic Sea

How science and policy interact has been a major research focus in the International Relations (IR) tradition, using the epistemic community (EC) concept, as well as in the alternative perspective of Science and Technology Studies (STS). Should science be autonomous and as apolitical as possible in order to ‘speak truth to power’, as suggested by EC or should the inevitable entanglement of science and politics be accepted and embraced so as to make advice more conducive to negotiating the explicit travails of political decision-making as suggested by STS? With this point of departure, we compare similarities and differences between science–policy interactions in the issue areas of eutrophication and fisheries management of the Baltic Sea. To examine how knowledge is mobilised, the concepts of ‘uncertainty’ and ‘coherence’ are developed, drawing on both EC and STS thinking. We then reflect on the explanatory value of these approaches in both cases and discuss how a separation of science and policy-making in the pursuit of achieving scientific consensus leads to ineffectual policies. Drawing on STS thinking, we urge for a re-conceptualisation of coherence in order to accommodate a more reflexive practice of science–policy interactions.

Gilek, MichaelSödertörns högskola,Miljövetenskap(Swepub:sh)shmlgk (author)
Linke, Sebastian,1974Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för globala studier,School of Global Studies(Swepub:gu)xlinse (author)
Södertörns högskolaMiljövetenskap (creator_code:org_t)

In:Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning: Routledge19:6, s. 769-7821523-908X1522-7200

By the author/editor: Saunders, Fred P ...; Gilek, Michael; Linke, Sebastian ...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Earth and Relate ...; and Environmental Sc ...

SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOCIAL SCIENCES; and Other Social Sci ...; and Other Social Sci ...

SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOCIAL SCIENCES; and Other Social Sci ...; and Social Sciences ...

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