Understanding political learning by scientific experts: a case of EU climate policy

Research often explores the role of scientific expertise in policymaking from an externalised perspective, mostly focusing on how policymakers use and abuse scientific expertise through political learning. However, very little is known about political learning by scientific experts. What strategies do they use to maintain and advance their access to, and influence on policymaking? Using process tracing, we illustrate how scientific experts' access to policymaking is challenged as a policy issue develops. We explore how this nudges scientific experts to engage in political learning and employ political advocacy strategies to enhance science's role in policy making, corresponding to evolving political opportunity structures. We empirically trace this using the case of EU climate policy development between 1990 and 2022. We identify three main sets of advocacy strategies used by scientific experts: Narrative and semantic (policy issue-oriented), Socialisation (Actors-oriented), and Governance (systems and structures-oriented). In doing so, this article illustrates the political actorness and agency of scientific experts and provides a supplementary understanding to the role of science in public policy and policy change, not only as a function of policymaker's instrumentalization of science, but also as a function of how scientific experts actively advocate for science's role in public policy.

Automated summary

Research often focuses on how policymakers utilize scientific expertise, but little is known about political learning by scientific experts. This study uses process tracing to explore how scientific experts adapt and employ political advocacy strategies to enhance science's role in policymaking, based on evolving political opportunity structures. The empirical case of EU climate policy development between 1990 and 2022 reveals three main sets of advocacy strategies used by scientific experts: narrative and semantic, socialisation, and governance-oriented. This study highlights the political agency of scientific experts and contributes to a better understanding of the role of science in public policy.