Lasswell in the looking glass

A ‘mirror’ for critical policy studies

Bibliographic Data

ID12985297
AuthorsDouglas Torgerson (0009-0008-0132-5735, Trent University, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume13
Issue1
Pages122-130
Publication date2018-08-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCritical Policy Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1946-0171 • E-ISSN: 1946-018X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19460171.2018.1512877
OpenAlexW2888805643
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited27

Lasswell remains a notable figure, but is typically cast simply as an apostle of scientism and technocracy. Is there anything in his proposal for the policy sciences to be taken seriously by critical policy studies? This essay contends that the key is a commonality between the two approaches – both are critical and committed to democracy – such that Lasswell’s proposal can be taken as a ‘mirror’ for critical policy studies to better see itself. That, however, means encountering many a wicked question

Critical theory · Democracy · Economics · Epistemology · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Scientism · Social science · Sociology · Technocracy · Critical Theory and Philosophy · Law · Philosophy · Political theory and Gramsci · Social and Cultural Dynamics