Evidence versus politics

Exploiting research in UK drug policy making?

Monaghan, Mark

• Publisher: Policy Press
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN:
  9781847426970
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781847426987
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Public Policy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

The initial enthusiasm for the evidence-based policy agenda has recently been replaced with increasing scepticism. Critics point out that 'policy-based evidence' characterises the relationship more accurately. Analysing the role and nature of evidence in the context ofUK drug policyand drawing on a range of theories of the policy process and research utilisation, this book pursues an alternative route for conceptualising the evidence and policy connection, which moves beyond zero-sum statements of evidence-based policy and policy-based evidence. It will be essential reading for students and researchers in public policy and criminology.

Table of contents

• EVIDENCE VERSUS POLITICS
• Contents
• List of tables and figures
• Acknowledgements
• List of abbreviations and key terms
• Introduction
• The origins and reach of the evidence movement
• The two communities of evidence and policy, the challenge of politics and the impact of the media
• Competition, conflict and controversy in the making of UK drug classification policy
• Developing tools for exploring ‘evidence’ in politicised policy areas
• The nature of evidence in a politicised policy area
• The utilisation of evidence in a politicised policy area
• Conceptualising and modelling evidence use in politicised policy areas
• Conclusion
• References
• Index