The Fifth Branch: Science Advisers as Policymakers

by Jasanoff

How can decisionmakers charged with protecting the environment and the public’s health and safety steer clear of false and misleading scientific research? Is it possible to give scientists a stronger voice in regulatory processes without yielding too much control over policy, and how can this be harmonized with democratic values? These are just some of the many controversial and timely questions that Sheila Jasanoff asks in this study of the way science advisers shape federal policy.

In their expanding role as advisers, scientists have emerged as a formidable fifth branch of government. But even though the growing dependence of regulatory agencies on scientific and technical information has granted scientists a greater influence on public policy, opinions differ as to how those contributions should be balanced against other policy concerns. More important, who should define what counts as good science when all scientific claims incorporate social factors and are subject to negotiation?

Jasanoff begins by describing some significant failures―such as nitrites, Love Canal, and alar―in administrative and judicial decisionmaking that fed the demand for more peer review of regulatory science. In analyzing the nature of scientific claims and methods used in policy decisions, she draws comparisons with the promises and limitations of peer review in scientific organizations operating outside the regulatory context. The discussion of advisory mechanisms draws on the author’s close scrutiny of two highly visible federal agencies―the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. Here we see the experts in action as they deliberate on critical issues such as clean air, pesticide regulation, and the safety of pharmaceuticals and food additives.

Jasanoff deftly merges legal and institutional analysis with social studies of science and presents a strong case for procedural reforms. In so doing, she articulates a social-construction model that is intended to buttress the effectiveness of the fifth branch.

Genres: Science, Politics, Nonfiction, Research

318 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 1990

Reviews

[Taylor Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read this for a class. It was good, but not my favorite. It basically is talking about how experts need to be included in discussion of policymaking.

[Josh Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strong thesis and analysis of scientific advising in the American regulatory landscape, though often at an unbearable density. Jasanoff's writing style can be overwhelmingly rigid and dry, leaving the reader to check the same sentence twice. While stylistically challenging, the overall format of the book and arguments made within are worthwhile, especially for those interested in science policy in the United States; Jasanoff details the role of advisory committees and their utility in maintaining objectivity and regulatory agency credibility.