Politics & Science in Sweden

Politics & Science in Sweden VA Report 2006:5 Facts about the study Politicians can greatly influence the public’s attitude to science. It matters greatly how politicians view knowledge, science and science’s role in society. An active dialogue between politicians and researchers is essential and the success or otherwise of the interaction between the two groups can have a far-reaching impact. For these reasons, the For me, it isn’t a Swedish organisation Vetenskap & Allmänhet (Public and Science) hockey match that we are playing, but music, has carried out a three-part study into the relationship between poli- and that should be ticians and researchers: played together. Margareta Norell • 595 members of parliament, leading regional politicians and mem- Bergendahl, Professor bers of Stockholm City Council were interviewed by Synovate Temo ”Royal Institute of in April 2006 (VA-report 2006:2 Politicians’ view of science). Technology • An analysis was carried out into the science-related material in a selection of publications from parliamentary political parties and their youth organizations aimed specifically at the party mem- bership. The analysis covered the extent of scientific reporting, subjects covered and how the material was presented. (VA-report 2006:3 Science in the Political Press). • A collection of in-depth essays and interviews was commissioned and published. Nine researchers and nine politicians discuss how they see the relationship between researchers and politicians. (VA- report 2006:4 Kunskapsbiten, 18 röster om relationen forskare – politiker). A summary of the study Politics and Science (VA-report 2006:5) will be presented here. It is hoped that these results will stimulate politicians to ask questions about science and also intensify the dialogue between researchers, politicians and the public. These studies have been carried out with the support of Forskningsrådet Formas, KK-stiftelsen, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Vetenskapsrådet and VINNOVA. Readers are welcome to quote from these studies pro- viding they cite VA as the source. These and other VA studies can also be downloaded from www.v-a.se. Publishers: Vetenskap & Allmänhet, VA Box 5073, 102 42 Stockholm ISSN: 1653-6843 Telephone: 08-791 29 00 ISBN 13: 978-91-85585-31-1 (tryckt) Fax: 08-611 56 23 ISBN 10: 91-85585-31-9 (tryckt) E-mail: [email protected] urn:nbn:se:vetenskapochallmanhet-2006-5-eng (pdf) Web-site: www.v-a.se Politicians believe in research Politicians are very positively inclined towards research. They think that scientific and technological developments have made life better – and they are generally more positive than the general public. There is an extra- Scientic Technical developments developments Figure . In your opinion, ordinary power in 100 % have developments in research that we must science and technology have the courage to 80 % over the last 0-20 years release, rather than to 42 made life better or worse contain. 52 43 for ordinary people? Hasse Johansson, Group 46 60 % Vice President and Head ”of R&D, Scania. 40 % 53 Somewhat better All the money in the 20 % 42 37 42 bank can’t get us back Much better a stable climate. 0 % Anders Wijkman, MEP Politicians Public Politicians Public (Christian Democrats) Politicians also strongly believe that research can have beneficial consequences. For example, they believe to a greater extent than the public that research can contribute to improved economic growth. This is particularly true for members of parliament from right-of-centre parties.* 100 % Economic growth Climate change Figure 2. Do you 83 think that, within 78 80 % the next ten years, there is a good chance 57 55 that research will 60 % contribute to the following? 40 % - increased economic * growth in Sweden? 20 % Left-of-centre parties: - slowing down climate Socialdemokraterna, Vänsterpartiet, Miljö- change? 0 % partiet Politicians Public Politicians Public Right-of-centre parties: Moderaterna, Folk- Politicians are also more optimistic than the public when it partiet, Centerpartiet, comes to the potential of research to contribute to slowing down Kristdemokraterna climate change. Politicians trust researchers Politicians have a very positive view of researchers. Very few consider that researchers carry out research without considering the risks, or that they have power that makes them dangerous. This high trust that politicians have for researchers applies mainly to researchers at universities – the level of trust is lower for researchers There is a lack of at companies. But politicians have a considerably higher level of knowledge amongst researchers when it trust than the general public in both types of researchers. comes to how the democratic process Researchers at Researchers at works and how much universities companies time it takes. 100 % ”Per Bill, MP (Moderaterna) Figure . How much trust do 80 % you have in...? For me, it is much more important to 60 % 79 make a contribution to 56 society than to write an 40 % 64 article for a scientific 43 publication. Great Lars Lindqvist, Professor 20 % Kalmar University College 15 15 Very great 8 8 0 % Politicians Public Politicians Public Right-of-centre politicians have a significantly higher level of trust in researchers, and especially for those at companies, than politicians from left-of-centre parties. Researchers at Researchers at universities companies 100 % 80 % Figure . How much trust do you have in…? 74 60 % Members of Parliament 78 71 40 % 57 20 % Great trust 25 18 Very great trust 13 3 0 % R-o-c- L-o-c- R-o-c- L-o-c- parties parties parties parties Even though politicians have a very high level of trust in researchers and research, researchers do not feature very highly in political party magazines or in those of their respective youth organizations. Whilst there is substantially more science-related material in political party magazines compared to regional newspapers (analysed by VA in 2005), the proportion of articles where a researcher is cited is considerably lower. 50 % Figure . The proportion of science- 40 % related articles and the 32 proportion of these 30 % where a researcher is cited. 20 % 18 16 10 % Party-political magazines 2 Regional newspapers 0 % Science-related Cited researchers articles Science-related articles in party-political magazines tend to em- phasize the associated risks rather than the benefits, although there are a relatively large number of articles where both risks and benefits are illustrated. Figure 6. The emphasis on benefits and risks in 12 % science-related articles in party political magazines. 40 % Benets 27 % Benets and risks Neither benets nor risks When scientists use language such as “on Risks 21 % the one hand this, on the other hand that” The vast majority of politicians say they often have contact with to explain research, politicians interpret researchers and that their experiences of these contacts are posi- this as contradictory tive. Negative experiences were mainly connected to difficulties and unreliable. ”Jan Hjärpe, Professor communicating with researchers who have their own language and live in their own world. Lund University How do research results affect policy? Which policy areas are most influenced by research results? Health and health care policies as well as energy and the environment, say the politicians. Social and industrial policy areas are influenced by research to a notably lesser extent. It is of course the case 80 % that we all appreciate 71 70 % 65 research that supports what we already believe. 60 % Ulf Kristersson, Regional 50 % politician, (Moderaterna), 42 40 38 Strängnäs 40 % 30 Figure 7. How much do 30 % ” research results influence policy in the following 20 % A state-financed areas? Great/very great researcher works in 10 % influence. the interest of the tax 0 % payer. Researchers should bear this in mind. Health Christian Azar, Education Energy and Social welfare Professor Chalmers the environment University of Technology Business and industry Transport, communications and infrastructure Politicians also consider that medical research has the greatest influence on societal development. Social sciences and the humanities are thought to be much less influential in this respect. 100 % 86 80 % 74 Figure 8. How much influence do you think the following research 60 % areas have on questions of societal 39 development? Great/very great. 40 % 20 % 0 % Medicine Technology and Humanities and natural sciences social sciences 6 What type of research most affects political policy? It is not, as might be expected, natural science, technology or medicine. Instead, it is the social sciences and humanities that politicians say form the basis of policy proposals. 40 % If the government doesn’t want any 33 Figure 9. How often do scientific advice then 30 % you use research results I’m not going to force from the following subject them to take it. 21 areas as a basis for a policy Sten Levander, Professor 20 % proposals? Often/very often. Lund University/MAS 16 ” 10 % Far too often, research results have been misinterpreted 0 % and distorted in order to support a Medicine particular political Technology and Humanities and standpoint. natural sciences social sciences Erik Nilsson, Stockholm This pattern is repeated in the parties’ own magazines. In the City Council (Social Democrats) science-related articles, medicine is rarely covered, whereas the social sciences and humanities are often reported. 80 % 60 % 57 Figure 0. Subject areas of science-related articles in 40 % party-political magazines. 20 % 12 2 0 % Medicine Technology andHumanities and natural sciencessocial sciences In the analysis of regional, youth and family publications carried out by VA in 2005, medicine was clearly the most common subject area reported. This probably reflects the fact that medicine is a subject which is relevant to people in their daily lives. 7 What kind of social science research is used by the politicians? Macro-economics would be a reasonable guess, but politicians, especially those on the ‘Left’ don’t regard macro-economics as a particularly scientific subject.

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