The Political Use of Evidence and Its Contribution to Democratic Discourse

• 成果类型: Editorial Material
• 署名作者: Schlaufer, Caroline; Stucki, Iris; Sager, Fritz
• 署名单位: HSE University (National Research University Higher School of Economics); University of Bern; University of Bern
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/puar.12923
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 645-649
• 关键词: SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION; POLICY; Referendum; Campaigns; media; deliberation; meanings; Divide; debate

摘要

This article argues that evidence, even when used politically, contributes to high-quality democratic discourse. Research results on the use of evidence in referendum campaigns in Switzerland show that (1) evidence fosters discourse quality and shifts the focus away from politics to policy; (2) evaluations and basic research contribute positively to discourse, but not opinion surveys and statistics; (3) the participation of experts and administrative practitioners in discourse is crucial to make evidence available to the public; and (4) evidence is always used as a part of a narrative and can alter the constructed images used in a story. In conclusion, the implications for practitioners are discussed.