Expertise and Participation

“Krick’s book provides the reader with a rare combination of an intelligent probe into the fundamental problem of the theory of democracy – how to reconcile democratic participation and reliable expertise – and meticulous empirical case studies of three exemplary exercises in public participation. The result is an unusually sophisticated analysis which does not shy away from practical conclusions.” –Peter Weingart, University of Bielefeld

“Making public policy that combines expert advice and public input is no easy task. Eva Krick’s accessible and judicious book is full of insights on why it is so difficult, and how complex democratic societies can do better. Drawing on original empirical research, Krick develops nuanced lessons for the design of participatory expert advisory processes.” –Mark B. Brown, California State University, Sacramento

“Krick’s investigations illuminate the much-underestimated importance of hybrid policy advice bodies for democraticgovernance. Her grounded approach to institutional design is genuinely original, and truly advances our understanding of how experts, citizens and stakeholders (should) interact.” –Cathrine Holst, University of Oslo

 “In an era of increasing academic specialization, Krick makes a bold and successful effort to integrate issues usually held apart; empirical studies of German and Norwegian cases, theory-development, normative assessment and constructive design proposals. On the basis of a wide theoretical perspective, important aspects of the conventional wisdom and key conceptualizations are challenged, supplemented and refined.” –Johan P. Olsen, University of Oslo

This book deals with the role of expertise and public participation in modern governance. It explores the relationship, tensions and compatibility of these increasingly important and partly conflicting sources of legitimacy and authority. By zooming in on the coordinated procedures of environmental policy-making in European consensus systems and by interconnecting theories of democracy, knowledge and science, organisation and decision-making, the author develops institutional solutions to the tensions between epistemic and democratic demands on public policy-making. 

Eva Krick is Researcher at the University of Oslo’s ARENA Centre for European Studies, focusing on questions of collective decision-making, democratic legitimacy and the role of knowledge in policy-making.