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The politics of COVID-19 experts: comparing winners and losers in Italy and the UK

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  • Paul Cairney
  • Federico Toth

Abstract

This article analyzes the “politics of experts”—or the struggle between scientific advisers to gain visibility and influence—in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and the UK. Modifying classic studies of policy communities of interest groups and civil servants, we classify relevant policy experts in the two countries into the following categories: “core insiders,” “specialist insiders,” “peripheral insiders,” and “outsiders.” Within these categories, we distinguish between “high-profile” and “low-profile” experts, depending on media exposure. The comparison between the UK and Italian cases helps to identify how actors interpret and follow formal and informal “rules of the game.” We identify a contest between experts to influence policy with reference to two competing “rules of the game.” The first set of rules comes from government, while the second comes from science advice principles. These rules collide, such as when governments require secrecy and nonconfrontation and scientists expect transparency and independent criticism. Therefore, experts face dilemmas regarding which rules to favor: some accept the limits to their behavior to ensure insider access; others are free to criticize the policies that they struggle to influence.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Cairney & Federico Toth, 2023. "The politics of COVID-19 experts: comparing winners and losers in Italy and the UK," Policy and Society, Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh, vol. 42(3), pages 392-405.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:polsoc:v:42:y:2023:i:3:p:392-405.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/polsoc/puad011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mads Dagnis Jensen & Kennet Lynggaard & Michael Kluth, 2022. "Paths, Punctuations and Policy Learning—Comparing Patterns of European use of Scientific Expertise during the Covid-19 Crisis," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 223-247, June.
    2. Ron Hodges & Eugenio Caperchione & Jan Helden & Christoph Reichard & Daniela Sorrentino, 2022. "The Role of Scientific Expertise in COVID-19 Policy-making: Evidence from Four European Countries," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 249-267, June.
    3. Allison, Graham T., 1969. "Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 63(3), pages 689-718, November.
    4. Cairney,Paul & Heikkila,Tanya & Wood,Matthew, 2019. "Making Policy in a Complex World," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108729109.
    5. Stefano Sacchi, 2018. "The Italian Welfare State in the Crisis: Learning to Adjust?," South European Society and Politics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 29-46, January.
    6. Allison, Graham T., 1969. "Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 63(3), pages 689-718, September.
    7. Tom Christensen & Per Lægreid, 2022. "Scientization Under Pressure—The Problematic Role of Expert Bodies During the Handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 291-307, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Tullia Galanti, 2023. "Expert legitimacy and competing legitimation in Italian school reforms," Policy and Society, Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh, vol. 42(3), pages 288-302.

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