Governing through Expertise: The Politics of Bioethics

Littoz-Monnet's book explores the enmeshment of expert knowledge with politics in global governance, particularly in bioethical expertise. She argues that mobilizing ethics experts can help policy-makers navigate policy conflicts and advance their pro-science and innovation agendas, despite not always being driven by a desire to rationalize governance. Bioethical expertise is shaped in a political and iterative space between experts and policymakers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 05 November 2020
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Littoz-Monnet offers a novel examination of the intertwinement of expert knowledge and politics in global governance, delving into the realm of bioethical expertise, an intriguing form of specialized knowledge that claims authority in the ethical analysis of issues pertaining to biomedicine, the life sciences, and emerging fields of technological innovation. Through a comprehensive investigation, she argues that the mobilization of ethics experts does not always stem from a desire to rationalize governance. Instead, enlisting the expertise of ethics experts, who possess a distinctive dual authority—both democratic and epistemic—can assist policy-makers in navigating policy conflicts related to scientific and technological advancements, thereby enabling them to pursue their pro-science and innovation agendas.

Bioethical expertise, in fact, emerges within a political and iterative space, where experts engage with policymakers to shape and refine ethical frameworks. The book unveils the mechanisms through which certain global governance narratives and the types of expertise they rely upon remain resilient even when challenged.

In conclusion, Littoz-Monnet's work provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics between expert knowledge and politics in global governance. By exploring the role of bioethical expertise, she sheds light on the ways in which ethical considerations are integrated into decision-making processes and highlights the significance of engaging a diverse range of experts in shaping policy outcomes. This book is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the intricate interplay between science, technology, ethics, and global governance.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108843928