Article 5 - Mulgan. Truth in government and the politicization of public service advice
7 important questions on Article 5 - Mulgan. Truth in government and the politicization of public service advice
What is politicization of advice
Objectivity and policy advice
-But another argument is that objectivity is taken for granted in everyday discourse, and that the idea of misrepresenting information for partisan purposes makes sense within that discourse
- Standards of objectivity and impartiality can lack independent validity
- Sexing up evidence: manipulating evidence for misleading effects, or ‘spin’
Objectivity of public service advice can be an issue in 2 arenas:
- Need for accurate information as basis for decision making
- Policy-making needs to be based on the best available evidence
Public – relationship between government and its citizens
- Citizens have right to expect that information provided by their leaders is factually correct
- Information produced by government advisers reaches the public
- Accuracy of the public record is a foundation of democratic dialogue
- Higher grades + faster learning
- Never study anything twice
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
For my 1st exam I got a C. Then, I started looking for ways to learn better and I came across Study Smart. Since then I have scored a A+, A, A- and another A. I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to hear it. I am so happy with it!!
I was struggling to finish all my first-year subjects for 3 years. Then I discovered Study Smart, which helped me to finish all of them within 3 months.
Because of StudySmart, things are going well in many ways. Before, I always had study stress and no time for anything. Now I feel calm and confident (because of the program). I used to score a B, now I usually score an A or A+.
Hey Chris, I really want to thank you very much for developing the platform, I usually got around C for my exams, now I scored an A+, an A and a A- !!
Since using Study Smart, my average has increased significantly. I even completed a statistics course with a A+ while I'm bad at statistics. I took on extra courses this year, because of Study Smart. Thanks so much!
Ever since I started studying with StudySmart I passed all my exams !!! No more re-sits!! At first, I was happy with a pass and now I only get good grades. Many thanks!
I aced all the courses I studied with Study Smart. For law, I first scored a D, and now an A! I’m 100% sure that I’ll pass all the courses I study with Study Smart.
I always thought I studied well. My grades were fine. I could never have imagined that applying these study skills would have such a huge and direct impact on my grades, my speed and the pleasure I have in learning.
For the first time, I finally feel totally confident about the way I learn. I have the perfect overview and make great progress in terms of speed and the grades I get. Thanks, Chris!
I immediately started to enjoy learning again, and my grades soared. All of a sudden, everything went better. I highly recommend Study Smart to all students..
Being able to create my materials online made the process of studying so much smoother and quicker. I no longer have to spend a huge amount of my time on creating my summaries.
At first, my notes were a mess. Now I use Study Smart to take my notes in a perfectly structured way. It helps me to save a lot of time and do other things I enjoy.
Students that study with Study Smart get better grades. The system applies all the learning methods in such a way that both well-performing students and students who struggle perform much better.
Hi Chris, I would like to thank you very much. Last year I scored C on a course, and this year I got an A+ thanks to your method! Thank you very much!
The largest effect is that my child is more enthusiastic about school! Every parent wants their children to be happy at school, Study Smart made it happen.
In high school, I failed several exams, and that has really changed now. I actually needed this tool very much back then. Since I started studying with StudySmart, I haven't had any D's. My average score is now an A and those are results I would have never had in the past
With my old method, I passed only 3 out of 8 courses. Since I started taking my notes digitally in Study Smart, I have passed all my courses on the first try. For me, StudySmart takes away the stress of wondering if I will pass or not.
Thanks to StudySmart, I passed all my exams, and with better grades than before! On top of that, I have mastered a very good study method now, which I am confident will help me earn my degree.
Political masters and responsibility
- E.g. ‘My department advises me that’
- A reason is less responsibility in case information turns out to be incorrect
- Second reason is to increase reliability of the information, minister’s statements have higher credibility if they come from non-partisan officials
Who takes responsibility for spin?
-When public servants distort evidence, it’s often unclear whether they do it because of indirect pressure from politicians or voluntarily (because of personal partisan support)
- Indirect pressure is hard to detect but just as effective
- A major incentive for political distortion is the decision to make the reports publicly available
-There is greater openness of government information now, so officials face greater pressures not to embarrass politicians with facts that will undermine them
Freedom of information and politicization
- Puts pressure on governments to support their policies by referencing to official research
- Also puts pressures on officials collecting evidence
If ministers can’t keep awkward information secret, they will aim to manipulate information to their advantage
Public servants are subject to conflicting ethical pressures arising from 2 public service principles:
- Obliged to provide ministers with unbiased and objective information
- Have to avoid embarrassing their ministers in public
How to guarantee unbiased information
- Some areas of public data collection can be isolated from political interferences, e.g. quantitative information
Government departments are under pressure to make use of spin if they suspect their advice will be made public, unless:
- Institutional independence of data collectors
- Routinized data collection
The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:
- A unique study and practice tool
- Never study anything twice again
- Get the grades you hope for
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
