The role of experts in policymaking

Abstract

In the Norwegian political system, experts and expert knowledge play a central role in public policymaking. Observers frequently point to the close links between science, expert professions, and government and to a political decision-making style that leaves considerable room for expert-based arguments alongside ideological and interest-based concerns. Knowledge-based governance is seen as one of the key conditions for successful public policies in Norway. Yet, curiously, the recognition that knowledge matters in Norwegian governance has not been accompanied by the development of a coherent body of literature on the issue. This chapter therefore not only takes stock of existing work but also outlines an overarching agenda for research on the role of expertise in Norwegian politics. Guided by an institutional perspective, the chapter examines the following questions: Through which institutions is expert knowledge incorporated into public policymaking in Norway? What kinds of experts and expert knowledge matter within these institutions? How has the role of experts in Norwegian governance changed over time, and what does it mean for power and democracy? The chapter discusses key institutions in the Norwegian knowledge regime, including the state bureaucracy, universities and research institutes, and public advisory commissions. It also sets out directions for future research on experts in Norwegian politics, focusing on new types of knowledge actors, legislative science advice and the expertise of politicians, and the policy influence of expert actors.