The Political Impact of Technical Expertise Author(s): Dorothy Nelkin Source: Social Studies of Science, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb., 1975), pp. 35-54 Published by: Sage Publications, Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/284554 . Accessed: 20/10/2014 20:36 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
[email protected]. Sage Publications, Ltd. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Social Studies of Science. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 128.173.127.127 on Mon, 20 Oct 2014 20:36:22 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions SocialStudies of Science, 5 (1975), 35-54 The PoliticalImpact of TechnicalExpertise Dorothy Nelkin Technologiesof speedand power - airports,power generating facilities, highways,dams - are oftena focus of bitteropposition. As these technologiesbecome increasinglycontroversial, scientists, whose expertiseforms the basis of technicaldecisions, find themselves involved in publicdisputes. This 'public'role of sciencehas generatedconcern bothwithin the profession and beyond;for a scientist'sinvolvement in controversialissues may violatethe normsof scientificresearch, but have considerableimpact on the politicalprocess. As scientistsare calledupon to addressa widerrange of controversial policy questions,l 'problemsof politicalchoice [may] becomeburied in debateamong expertsover highly technical alternatives'.2 This paperwill discusssome of the implicationsof the increasing involvementof scientistsin controversialareas.