Neil:
From working within the science and policy beast, I think there is a real
difference between NGO influence on SCIENCE and on POLICY. The former is
nuanced, but generally negative (NGOs are more harmful/problematic to
science then helpful, supportive only when it supports them, and then
generally using simplistic and simplified versions which alienates the
scientists) and very influential on policy--sometimes. The information they
bring forward, the lobbying they do, the construction of media events that
influence decision makers, the grunt work of crafting legislation,
regulation, programs and initiatives is done by many NGOs to great effect.
Clearly, they aren't going to make purses out of sow's ears--ie they are
more successful with administrations and legislators who are prone to agree
with them, but they also work (frequently effectively) in getting those
folks to their side.
It is a long term process where empirical studies of specific events
generally cannot get the larger picture of the lobbying water torture that
happens.
==========================================================
The future is an act of the imagination. (from Ziegler 1987)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonard P. Hirsch
Smithsonian Institution
New mailing address:
1100 Jefferson Drive SW #3123
PO Box 37012
Q-3123 MRC 705
Washington, DC 20013-7012
1.202.633.4788
1.202.312.2888 fax
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> "Neil E Harrison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 01/04/05 09:26AM >>>
Henrik:
As the title suggests, the book I co-edited with Gary Bryner last year
("Science and Politics in the International Environment," Rowman and
Littlefield, 2004) looked specifically at the relationship between
science and policy making in international environmental issues. One of
our conclusions in the final chapter is that NGOs have little influence
on science or policy beyond getting the issue on the international
agenda. In only one issue (the formation and management of a US-Mexican
biosphere reserve) were NGOs evidently active and influential beyond
issue recognition.
It may be that scholars who look for the influence of NGOs see more of
it (and rate it a more significant influence on policy outcomes) than
those who look generally at the issue. The authors of the case studies
(many of whom are not political scientists) did not specifically seek
out the influence of NGOs but looked holistically at the history of the
issue. The 10 cases (on issues as varied as mad cow disease in Europe,
climate change, dioxins in the Arctic, acid rain, global forest policy,
and watershed management) are specifically written for use in class and
are rich in detailed data on events and actors. To encourage student
participation and discussion they do not draw specific conclusions on
each case. The final chapter considers the usefulness of current
theories on science-policy interactions and find them all wanting. Gary
and I suggest some routes for new theoretical development.
Cheers:
Neil Harrison
SDI/UW
-----Original Message-----
From: Henrik Selin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 8:39 PM
To: gep-ed@listserve1.allegheny.edu
Subject: NGOs and climate change science and policy making
Hello all,
Can anyone recommend shorter texts (articles, book chapters etc) that
examine the roles of NGOs specifically with respect to climate change
science and policy making, to be used in class?
Thanks,
Henrik S.
Henrik Selin
Assistant Professor
Department of International Relations
Boston University
154 Bay State Road
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (1)- 617-353-5400
Fax: (1)-617-353-9290
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: http://www.bu.edu/ir/faculty/selin.html
