Alzheimer's Disease — Perspective from Political Science: Public Policy Issues

The paper outlines the policy context and summarizes the numerous policy issues that AD raises from the more generic to the unique. It posits that strong public fears of AD and its future prevalence projections and costs, raise increasingly difficult policy dilemmas. After reviewing the costs in human lives and money and discussing the latest U.S. policy initiatives, the paper presents two policy areas as examples the demanding policy decisions we face. The first focuses on the basic regulatory function of protecting the public from those who would exploit these fears. The second centers on the well-debated issues of advance directives and euthanasia that surround AD. Although more dialogue, education and research funding are needed to best serve the interests of AD patients and families as well as society at large, this will be challenging because of the strong feelings and divisions AD engenders.

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The Case for Public Policy Expertise in Political Science

Political Science and Politics ◽

10.1017/s1049096519000015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 52 (03) ◽

pp. 476-480

Author(s):

Veronica Herrera ◽

Alison E. Post

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Public Sphere ◽

Political Science ◽

Empirical Research ◽

Research Funding ◽

Research Area ◽

The Public ◽

Innovative Work ◽

The Public Sphere ◽

Academic Positions

ABSTRACTThe politics of public policy is a vibrant research area increasingly at the forefront of intellectual innovations in the discipline. We argue that political scientists are best positioned to undertake research on the politics of public policy when they possess expertise in particular policy areas. Policy expertise positions scholars to conduct theoretically innovative work and to ensure that empirical research reflects the reality they aim to analyze. It also confers important practical advantages, such as access to a significant number of academic positions and major sources of research funding not otherwise available to political scientists. Perhaps most importantly, scholars with policy expertise are equipped to defend the value of political science degrees and research in the public sphere.

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Global Tobacco Control Advocacy, Towards Post-2015: An Evaluation of Challenges, Analysis Within the Public Policy Context, and Recommendations Moving Forward

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.2513670 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Evan Victor Goldstein

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Tobacco Control ◽

The Public ◽

Policy Context

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The Relevance of Trust

10.1093/oso/9780190869229.003.0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Inmaculada de Melo-Martín ◽

Kristen Intemann

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Scientific Information ◽

Policy Decisions ◽

The Public ◽

Epistemic Trust ◽

Proper Role ◽

Scientific Institutions ◽

Public Policy Decisions ◽

Scientific Phenomena

This chapter offers a brief overview of the importance of epistemic trust and the relevance that scientific institutions and practices have in promoting or undermining warranted public trust. Epistemic trust is crucial for the production of scientific knowledge, the ability of the public to make sense of scientific phenomena, and the development of public policy. Normatively inappropriate dissent is more likely to take hold and erroneously affect people’s beliefs and actions in a context where the trustworthiness of scientists is called into question and where there is an excessive reliance on scientific information when it comes to assessing policy decisions. Thus, finding ways to facilitate and sustain warranted epistemic trust, as well as increasing understanding of the proper role of science in public policy decisions can help mitigate the negative impact of dissenting views.

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Climate scientists set the bar of proof too high

Climatic Change ◽

10.1007/s10584-021-03061-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 165 (3-4) ◽

Author(s):

Elisabeth A. Lloyd ◽

Naomi Oreskes ◽

Sonia I. Seneviratne ◽

Edward J. Larson

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Public Communication ◽

Central Question ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Policy Makers ◽

The Public ◽

Standard Of Proof ◽

Policy Context ◽

Standards Of Proof

AbstractStandards of proof for attributing real world events/damage to global warming should be the same as in clinical or environmental lawsuits, argue Lloyd et al. The central question that we raise is effective communication. How can climate scientists best and effectively communicate their findings to crucial non-expert audiences, including public policy makers and civil society? To address this question, we look at the mismatch between what courts require and what climate scientists are setting as a bar of proof. Our first point is that scientists typically demand too much of themselves in terms of evidence, in comparison with the level of evidence required in a legal, regulatory, or public policy context. Our second point is to recommend that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommend more prominently the use of the category “more likely than not” as a level of proof in their reports, as this corresponds to the standard of proof most frequently required in civil court rooms. This has also implications for public policy and the public communication of climate evidence.

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Using Community Resources to Teach Public Policy

News for Teachers of Political Science ◽

10.1017/s0197901900003706 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Keith J. Mueller

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Health Policy ◽

Political Science ◽

Community Resources ◽

Alternative Instruction ◽

Policy Studies ◽

The Public ◽

Energy Environment ◽

Science Departments ◽

Specific Health

The recent growth in policy studies curricula in political science departments affords increased opportunities for experimentation with alternative instruction modes. This article describes one innovation found to be appropriate for courses for which the instructor has access to experts in the policy being studied. In this example, community experts in health policy issues were used as resource persons to assist in discussion of specific health policy concerns. Other policy courses should be amenable to this format, including energy, environment, and economic development courses. Even without using community experts, the general format of weekly colloquiums could be replicated for other policy courses.The courses described herein is an upper division/graduate level course in American Health Policy. It is taught for one semester every other year as one of several topical courses in the public policy track within political science.

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Role of Spiritual Intelligence in Public Policy in the African American Pentecostal Church

Journal of Pentecostal Theology ◽

10.1163/17455251-bja10014 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 145-161

Author(s):

James B. Smith

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

African American ◽

Spiritual Intelligence ◽

Policy Issues ◽

The Public ◽

The Government ◽

Community Issues ◽

The Public Sphere ◽

Policy Engagement ◽

The Church

Abstract Although many U.S. faith-based organizations have become partners with the government, the African American Pentecostal Church (aapc), which holds spirituality as a means of serving humanity as its theological framework, has remained a silent partner in public policy engagement. With the framework of spiritual intelligence, this qualitative case study addresses the perceptions of African American Pentecostal leaders regarding how the church’s theology may have an impact on the public policy engagement of its parishioners. Twelve African American Pentecostal Bishops were interviewed, and data were coded and analyzed to identify themes. Results revealed that participants use their spirituality to connect with public policy issues that relate to their personal experiences. Findings also indicated that the aapc is not an organized denomination, but rather a conglomeration of factions. Lack of an organized epicenter and lack of training and development of its leaders prevent this church from engaging in the public sphere. Although members embrace their responsibility to care for the needs of others, the church lacks a collective response to community issues. Findings may be used to prepare the next generation of aapc leaders to unify the church to offer spiritual solutions to public policy issues.

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