Conceiving scientific expertise democratically

Abstract

One of the ideals of democratic governance has been wide-scale and deep-rooted people’s participation in the processes of policy formulation and implementation. However, we are living in time where ‘science’ is increasingly getting into policymaking as dealing with issues such as ecological damage, reparation and sustenance requires scientific wherewithal and expertise. The state is, then, not only expected to pay attention to scientific expertise but also urged to act in accordance with the canons of relevant science. The questions, therefore, arise: Is there a way governance can make the best use of science and yet be democratic? Is it possible to conceive scientific expertise democratically? This chapter attempts to address these questions in the context of ecological controversy in the Western Ghats. It is suggested that while ecological predicaments seem to increasingly acquire more and more policy attention as well as the intervention of scientific expertise in the days to come, it is nevertheless important that we, as a society and a polity, have a clearer idea on how to go about them. A different kind of interface between science and politics, or say science and democracy, other than the one permitted by the traditional value-free ideal of science is what is needed for the conduct of scientific inquiry related to policy issues in general and resolution of the ecological controversy in the Western Ghats, in particular.