The Political Uses of Expert Knowledge: Immigration Policy and Social Research

Why do politicians and civil servants commission research, and what use do they make of it in policymaking? The received wisdom is that research contributes to improving government policy. Christina Boswell challenges this view, arguing that policymakers are just as likely to value expert knowledge for two alternative reasons: as a way of lending authority to their preferences; or to signal their capacity to make sound decisions. Boswell develops a compelling new theory of the role of knowledge in policy, showing how policymakers use research to establish authority in contentious and risky areas of policy. She illustrates her argument with an analysis of European immigration policies, charting the ways in which expertise becomes a resource for lending credibility to controversial claims, underpinning high-risk decisions or bolstering the credibility of government agencies. This book will make fascinating reading for those interested in the interface between policymaking, academic research and political legitimacy.

Part I. The Political Functions of Knowledge: 1. The puzzle: explaining the uses of knowledge; 2. Instrumental knowledge and organizational legitimacy; 3. The symbolic functions of knowledge; 4. The use of knowledge in public policy debates; Part II. The Case of Immigration Policy: 5. The politics of immigration in Germany and the UK; 6. The British Home Office; 7. The German Federal Office for Migration; 8. The European Commission; 9. Organizations and cultures of expertise; Part III. Extending the Theory: 10. Knowledge and policy.