Science, Technology, And Politics : Policy Analysis In Congress

This book identifies theories, conceptual frameworks, and concepts from political science that can usefully be applied to the study of science and technology. It explores how science and technology related concerns help illuminate and test some of the enduring theories of political science.

This book began several years ago as a project organized by members of the Science and Technology Studies section of the American Political Science Association. It is part of an ongoing attempt by members of the section and others to focus scholarly attention on the political and social implications of technological change and scientific advances. Part of the concern is to identify theories, conceptual frameworks, and concepts from political science that can usefully be applied to the study of science and technology. Part of the concern is to explore how science and technologyrelated concerns help illuminate and test some of the enduring theories of political science. We hope to contribute to the development of a strong theoretical underpinning for science and technology studies. We hope that such an enrichment of the theoretical bases for understanding science and technology-related phenomena will also contribute to more effective and appropriate public policies for regulating and encouraging scientific and technological developments. This book is an attempt to marry theoretical exposition and applied policy inquiry.