Multiple Encounters, Multiple Frictions

Abstract

There are numerous areas of contact between the worlds of social research and of public policy and politics, encompassing a whole range of different orders. Together they form dynamic fields of interaction which often involve close rapport and mutual interests, but may also invoke uncomfortable connections, strains and conflict. Reciprocal orientations between social research and policy-making may thus be based on expectations of complementary relevance and mutual benefit, prompting occasional efforts to lay bridges and promote common perspectives and programmes. Often however the relations turn out tenuous and at times the policy embrace of research becomes too close for comfort. It would indeed be naïve, therefore, to ‘think of politics and science as entirely separate enterprises’ in which ‘science is engaged in the high pursuit of truth, and politics is engaged in the baser pursuit of interests’ (Guston 2000: xv).