Speaking Science to Power Responsible Researchers and Policymaking

Science has the potential to do much good. But it can also be misused and cause harm. How can researchers become aware of the risks and share their insights responsibly? This volume gathers a premier group of scholars and practitioners to address cutting-edge dilemmas of “responsible policy engagement.” The authors reflect on their own experiences and provide guidance on how to constructively communicate with policymakers - while also being transparent about the uncertainty and subtleties of the research process.

The case studies cover tricky policy engagements on topics ranging from postconflict power-sharing, atrocities prevention, NATO enlargement, economic crises, and business and human rights to counterinsurgency and state-building, census data and polling, and intelligence analysis. To avoid pitfalls, the analyses offer a mix of ethical principles and practical advice, including setting cautionary ethical redlines, reflecting on one's position and values, and describing areas of consensus and degrees of uncertainty.

Speaking Science to Power uncovers the temptations scholars may face to share particular results, overgeneralize findings, conceal uncertainty, or curry favor with policymakers, and then urges them to act responsibly.

Rachel A. Epstein, Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver,Oliver Kaplan, Associate Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver

Rachel A. Epstein is a Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Her research focuses on international political economy, financial crises and reform, international security, and the role of international organizations in eliciting compliance from target states and states-in-transition. She has held several post-doctoral fellowships at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy and was also an Advanced Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Freie Universität in Berlin in 2016.

Oliver Kaplan is an Associate Professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. He is the author of the book, Resisting War: How Communities Protect Themselves (Cambridge University Press, 2017). Kaplan has also published articles on the conflict-related effects of land reforms, ex-combatant reintegration and recidivism, and research ethics. Kaplan was a Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace and a postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University and at Stanford University.

Preface & Acknowledgments1. Responsible Policy Engagement: A New Imperative for Social Scientists, Rachel A. Epstein and Oliver Kaplan2. Preregister Your Ethical Redlines: Vulnerable Populations, Policy Engagement, and the Perils of E-Hacking, Jason Lyall3. Sharing Unpopular Findings: When Academic Research Challenges Policy Efforts, Tricia D. Olsen4. Coping with Conflicting Claims: Ethnic Power Sharing for Sustainable Peace?, Timothy D. Sisk5. Partnered Policy Engagement: Positionality and the Ethics of Collaborating with Civil-Society Organizations, Oliver Kaplan6. Should Economists Deceive? Prosocial Lying, Paternalism, and the “Ben Bernanke Problem”, George F. DeMartino7. The Problem of Overgeneralization: The Effects of NATO Enlargement, Rachel A. Epstein8. He Who is a Gentleman Resigns: Data Ethics and the Power of Data, César Caballero Reinoso9. Policymaker's Epilogue: From the Receiving End of Responsible Engagement, Leanne Erdberg Steadman10. Conclusion: The Future of Responsible Engagement, Rachel A. Epstein and Oliver Kaplan