Brans, Marleen & Timmermans, Arco (2022) (Eds.). The Advisory Roles of Political Scientists in Europe. Comparing Engagements in Policy Advisory Systems. Palgrave Macmillan. 421 Seiten. ISBN: 978-3-030-86007-3, Open Access.

Abstract

This edited volume presents the results of a large comparative survey in 39 European countries about the role of political science and political scientists in diverse policy advisory systems. It delivers a fascinating view about the differently institutionalized networks between governmental, societal, and scientific actors of policy advice, documenting amongst other the different scope, content, and channels of advice, and offering, finally, a typology of advisors, distinguishing pure academics, experts, opinionated scholars, and public intellectuals. The book contains very useful introductions to theoretical approaches to policy advice, and the theoretical and empirical essentials of the survey, as well as 12 chapters about different European countries from Albania to the UK, and a final comparative view of different patterns in Europe. This volume, however, does not provide answers to all our theoretical and empirical queries, but it is an immensely valuable and readable contribution to the ongoing debates about the characteristics of policy advice, the professionalization of political science, and its social and political impact, as well as a very good foundation to further research.