Technoscientific expertise and the significance of policy cultures

Traditionally, the relationship between technical expertise and policymakin g has been conceptualized as one in which there is linear conformity betwee n expert knowledge and policy decision. Although often critical of this per spective, writings in science and technology studies, as well as in general policy science, follow this tradition in many Vital respects. In argument with such "rationalist" traditions in science and technology policy inquiry , the present article argues the importance of viewing the use or enabling enactment of technoscientific expertise in regulative policy as situated in a specific culture of policymaking, i.e, a policy culture. The institution al and managerial implications of such a perspective are elaborated and sup ported by a comparative example drawn from European nuclear regulation. Fin ally, the concept of mediative expert enactment is suggested as a managemen t approach in situations where policy cultures diverge. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.