Expertisation or Greater Representation?

Stine Hesstvedt and Johan Christensen examine the long-term developments in the involvement of interest groups and academics in Norwegian policy advisory bodies in the special issue of European Politics and Society.

Journal of European Integration

Abstract

Policy-making in democratic systems involves the consultation of affected interests as well as relevant expertise. Yet, who provides decision-makers with input and how this has changed over time is a matter of contention. Whereas society-centred accounts point to the involvement of interest groups in policy formulation, epistemic accounts emphasise the participation of academic experts in the analysis and design of policy. Yet, there are few systematic empirical analyses of the developments over time in the participation of these two groups of actors in the policy formulation process. The article attempts to fill this gap by examining participation patterns in Norwegian temporary advisory commissions. Analysing a newly compiled database covering more than 1500 commissions from the period 1972–2016, the article finds a marked rise in the participation of academics over time and a stable or declining representation of interest groups.

Full info

Johan Christensen and Stine Hesstvedt
Expertisation or Greater Representation? Evidence from Norwegian Advisory Commissions

European Politics and Society, online 2018, Pages 1-18
DOI: 10.1080/23745118.2018.1515861

Open Access (link)

Tags: Experts, policy-making, expertisation, interest groups
Published Sep. 18, 2018 12:08 PM - Last modified Jan. 28, 2022 5:36 AM