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ERIC Number: EJ1321970
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Aug
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1744-2648
EISSN: N/A
The Evidence-Based Policy Movement and Political Idealism
Ahlin Marceta, Jesper
Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, v17 n3 p525-534 Aug 2021
The opposing views in the scholarly debate on evidence-based policy (EBP) have recently been labeled 'rationalist' and 'constructivist', where the former are positive to EBP and the latter are not. This framing of the debate is suboptimal, as it conflates critical positions that should be kept separate. This article suggests that the debate should be understood as one between idealists, realists, and counter-idealists about EBP. The realist position, that is, that EBP is difficult or impossible to achieve in practice, has already been treated at length in the debate. The conflict between idealism and counter-idealism, to the contrary, has been neglected. This article aims to stimulate the scholarly debate on EBP by initiating a principled discussion between idealism and counter-idealism about EBP, which should motivate proponents of EBP to formulate their ideal with substantial moral arguments. This places the debate on EBP in the context of normative political theory, where it rightfully belongs.
Policy Press. University of Bristol, 1-9 Old Park Hill, Bristol BS2 8BB, UK. Tel: +44-117-954-5940; e-mail: pp-info@policypress.co.uk; Web site: https://policypress.co.uk/journals/evidence-and-policy
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A