COVID-19 and the Paradox of Scientific Advice: Navigating Through a Double Bind

The Lion's Share

'The scientific advisory committee is a neglected political institution whose importance became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee finds itself in a double bind: if it tries to be more useful, it compromises the neutrality that is the source of its authority and legitimacy; if it tries to remain neutral, it sacrifices usefulness (Pamuk, 2021).'

Joining us on this episode is British Academy's Brian Barry Prize for Excellence in Political Science winner Dr Zeynep Pamuk, currently an assistant professor in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics. Dr Pamuk's research interests lie in the intersection of political theory, the philosophy of science and social science, and social epistemology. Today, we discuss her latest work titled 'COVID-19 and the Paradox of Scientific Advice (2021)', published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the American Political Science Association. This article revolves around the negligence of scientific advisory committees during the pandemic, democratic scrutiny and a "double bind" faced when committees try to balance neutrality and usefulness. How do we address this paradox? Join us to find out!

The Lion's Share is now available on all major podcast streaming platforms (click here). Subscribe and follow us on Instagram @kclppe for updates on our latest episodes. This episode was hosted by Diya Iyer with an original background score by Serena Jalan from Berkelee College of Music.