The governance of expertise refers to how power dynamics, both formal and informal, influence the integration of expert knowledge into political systems and public decision-making. This intersection between politics and knowledge has been explored in policy sciences, especially concerning the engagement of experts by policymakers amidst today's policy complexities and challenges. Expert knowledge legitimizes policymaking, but it can be challenged by issues of accountability and transparency. These dynamics are particularly prominent during significant economic, social, or environmental crises, such as climate change, pandemics, and military conflicts, which require swift and sophisticated responses furnished by experts from academia, research institutions, think tanks, and interest groups. These experts, while enhancing decision-making legitimacy, also influence democratic processes, which raises concerns about the balance between effectiveness and legitimacy.

This Research Topic aims to explore the complex relationship between democratic governance and technocracy. It examines how experts can influence decision-making, the way their roles evolve across different stages of the policy process, and how these interactions alter governance frameworks at various institutional levels. Through a focus on sustainability policies aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, this Research Topic seeks to understand the crucial and unavoidable role of expertise in policymaking and its associated tensions and arrangements.

To gather further insights in this evolving landscape of expertise governance in policymaking, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The dynamics and tensions between expertise and democratic governance.
• Structural and procedural configurations of expertise within government advisory systems.
• Roles of experts in shaping issue-making processes in central and local governments.
• Case studies of expert involvement in policy adoption and implementation phases.
• The impact of strategic foresight on decision-making processes.
• Influence and strategies of sustainable development interest groups.
• Evaluations of public policy and their effects on policymaking processes.

Articles considering various contributions, like empirical studies, theoretical papers, and comprehensive reviews, are welcomed to enrich this discussion.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

The Governance of Expertise in Challenging Policy Making