Truth and Post-Truth in Public Policy

Post-truth is a problem for policy analysis, as it denies facts and social meanings attached to them. An interpretive policy-analytic approach is needed to understand post-truth, illustrated by examining policy arguments related to climate change and coronavirus denial.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 09 December 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The phenomenon of post-truth poses a significant challenge for the public policy-oriented sciences, including policy analysis. Alongside "fake news," the denial of facts in the post-truth era is a major concern across various policy domains. While a common response is to advocate for increased access to and accuracy of factual information, this Element suggests that the effort to understand post-truth goes beyond merely focusing on facts. It requires an understanding of the social meanings that are attached to facts in the political world of public policy. The challenge, therefore, lies as much in the realm of a politics of meaning as it does in epistemology.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding of post-truth, this analysis supplements the examination of facts with an interpretive policy-analytic approach. By examining the policy arguments that have shaped policy controversies related to climate change and coronavirus denial, the importance of the interpretive perspective becomes evident.

In conclusion, the phenomenon of post-truth presents a complex and multifaceted challenge for the public policy-oriented sciences. It requires a nuanced understanding that goes beyond mere factual analysis and encompasses the social meanings and political implications attached to facts. By adopting an interpretive policy-analytic approach, policymakers and scholars can better equip themselves to navigate the post-truth era and develop effective strategies for addressing the challenges it presents.

Weight: 144g
ISBN-13: 9781108796071
Edition number: New ed