Making Sense of ‘What Works’: Evidence Based Policy Making as Instrumental Rationality?
| Author | Ian Sanderson |
| Published date | 01 July 2002 |
| Date | 01 July 2002 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/095207670201700305 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Making
Sense
of
'What
Works':
Evidence
Based
Policy
Making
as
Instrumental
Rationality?
Ian
Sanderson
Policy
Research
Institute,
Leeds
Metropolitan
University
Abstract
The
notion
of evidence-based
policy
making
(EBP)
has
gained
renewed
currency
in
the
UK
in
the
context
of
the
current
Labour
Government's
commitment
to
modernise
government.
Thus,
a
key
driver
of
modernisation
is
seen
as
evidence
based
policy
making
and
service
delivery
-
'what
matters
is
what
works'.
The
aim
of
this
article
is
to
critically
examine
the
assumptions
underpinning
EBP
asking,
in
particular,
the
extent
to
which
the
increased
emphasis
on
the
role
of
evidence
in
policy
making
is
indicative
of
'technocratic
politics'
underpinned
by
an
instrumental
rationality
which
erodes
the
normative
basis
of
policy
making
and
undermines
the
capacity
for
'appropriate'
practice.
It
is
argued
that
the
current
emphasis
on
EBP
needs
to
be
understood
in
the
context
of
recent
trends
in
governance
processes
and
the
development
by
New
Labour
of
performance
management
for
public
services.
The
nature
of
the
evidence
we
can
expect
from
evaluation
and
the
role
of
evidence
in
policy-making
practice
are
critically
examined.
It
is
argued
that
we
need
an
expanded
notion
of
'practical
reason'
to
guide
'appropriate
practice'
within
the
context
of
a
broader
framework
of
'responsible
government.'
Introduction
The
recent
resurgence
of
the
notion
of
evidence-based
policy
making
might
be
seen
as
a
re-affirmation
of
the
'modernist'
project,
the
enduring
legacy
of
the
Enlightenment
involving
the
commitment
to
change
and
improve
the
world
through
the
application
of
reason.
This
legacy
has
now
long
been
under
sustained
attack
from
postmodernists,
inspired
by
'...
comprehensive
dissatisfaction
with
the
western
humanist
tradition
...'
which
has
resulted
in
a
reaction
against
'...
the
dream
of
emancipation
which
has
inspired
western
progressive
thought
since
the
time
of
the
French
revolution
...'
(O'Sullivan,
1993,
p.22).
The
modernist
preoccupation
with
achieving
control
over
the
Public
Policy
and
Administration
Volume
17
No.
3
Autumn
2002
61
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