Knowledge and policy:Key statements

KNOWandPOLEric Mangez

The role of knowledge in the construction of education and health policy across Europe

www.KNOWandPOL.eu

A. The European discourse about knowledge

B. Key statements1. There is no simple way2. Knowledge / evidence is never neutral3. Europe / world of ‘knowledges’4. Policy as knowledge

Knowledge and Policy:Key Statements

Knowledge as a key for Europe

The European discouse about knowledge

“In the new rules of wealth creation economic prosperity will depend on

nations and companies being able to exploit the skills, knowledge and insights of workers” (Brown, Lauder

1997)

Knowledge as a key for the economy

EU institutions and actors often stress “the need to use evidence-based policy, including robust evaluation instruments to identify which reforms and practice are the most effective and

to implement them successfully” (2007)

They argue for “more knowledge-based policy and practice” (2008)

Knowledge as a key to the policy process

A strong demand for increasing the role of knowledge in the economy and in the policy process

- Knowledge economy- Governing with knowledge

A demand for knowledge

A demand for knowledge

The knowledge – policy relationship:

key statements

1There is no simple way

There is no simple evidence

Evidence is disputed. Sometimes contradictory. Always diverse.

There is no simple way

2Knowledge / evidence is

never neutral

Ways of knowing are ‘political’

Ways of knowing are ways of constructing the future

Evidence / knowledge is never neureal

3Europe / world of

‘knowledges’

Europe is not an easy thing to understand

Knowledge as socially constructed

Each context is specific

Knowledge regimes, local knowledge cultures, knowledge path dependency

It is about who we are

Europe / world of ‘knowledges’

Europe is not an easy thing to understand

Knowledge as socially constructed

Each context is specific

Knowledge regimes, local knowledge cultures, knowledge path dependency

It is about who we are

Europe / world of ‘knowledges’

4Knowledge as policy

Knowledge as a policy instrument in its own right

Knowledge-based regulation tool

A specific kind of knowledge: simplified, comparative, normative, positive, …

Governing tools in the hands of non governmental actors

Knowledge as policy

Thank you

The Knowledge and Policy Final Conference

Brussels, 23 September 2011