Description

Science and politics have been intertwined throughout human history, and particularly over the last century.  But their relationship has become increasingly problematic. Here Geoff Mulgan calls attention to the growing frictions caused by the expanding authority of science, which sometimes helps politics but often challenges it.

He dissects the complex history of states’ use of science for conquest, glory and economic growth and shows the challenges of governing risk – from nuclear weapons to genetic modification, artificial intelligence to synthetic biology. He shows why the governance of science has become one of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century, ever more prominent in daily politics and policy.

Whereas science is ordered around what we know and what is, politics engages what we feel and what matters. So how can we reconcile the two, so that crucial decisions are both well informed and legitimate?

The book proposes new ways to organize democracy and government, both within nations and at a global scale, to better shape science and technology so that we can reap more of the benefits and fewer of the harms.

Reviews

‘‘Packed with wisdom and analytical prowess … a breath of fresh air that stands apart from others that only theorise on science’s role in political decision-making’ Rhona Mijumbi, Nature

‘Groundbreaking … Geoff Mulgan masterfully dissects the complex dance between science, technology, and power, exposing perilous gaps in oversight. Essential reading for all who care about steering technology for the greater good, "When Science Meets Power" brims with radical insights to fuse the strengths of science and democracy.’   Azeem Azhar, author of The Exponential Age

"Geoff Mulgan shows us how we got to a point where science and politics seem increasingly at odds - and how we can come to a healthier understanding of the role of science to inform policy."  Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Chairman of Google 

‘A great contribution to the science-policy debate! A must-read for anyone who is involved in policymaking for science or in science for policymaking. And a good read too …’  Caroline Nevejan, Chief Scientist, City of Amsterdam

‘An important read for all those interested in how the relationships between politicians, bureaucracies and science need to evolve.’   Sir Peter Gluckman, President of the International Science Council, former President International Network of Government Science Advice

“Readable and thought-provoking … science and power are entwined, and When Science Meets Power provides valuable insights into how we can make the relationship more effective.”
— The Biologist