Epistemic Communities in International Policy Coordination
Summary
Epistemic communities are networks of experts who share a set of normative beliefs, causal understandings and common policy goals, and who seek to guide decision-making through the provision of authoritative knowledge. In international policy coordination, these communities emerge around issues ranging from climate change to urban resilience, health technology assessment to global security. Their influence depends on factors such as professionalisation, modes of persuasion and institutional design, as well as on the interaction between expert networks and formal governance structures. By defining problems, framing policy options and offering evidence-based recommendations, epistemic communities contribute to the diffusion of norms and technical standards across borders. Their effectiveness varies according to the political salience of the issue, the presence of overarching scientific consensus, and the capacity of policy-making institutions to absorb expert input. Understanding these dynamics is essential for appreciating how knowledge shapes the global policy agenda and for designing mechanisms that enhance the legitimacy and impact of expert advice.
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Epistemic Communities in International Policy Coordination publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in epistemic communities in international policy coordination across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Epistemic community: A transnational network of experts sharing normative beliefs, causal understandings and policy objectives, who endeavour to influence decision-making through specialised knowledge.
Scientific advisory committee: A formal assembly of experts convened to provide evidence-based guidance on complex policy issues within international or regional governance frameworks.
Knowledge transfer: The process by which research findings and expert insights are communicated, adapted and integrated into policy measures and regulatory frameworks.
References
- Urban climatological research informing environmental policy and planning in Fukuoka, Japan: What makes an epistemic community successful locally?. Environmental Policy and Governance (2024).
- What Can Be Learned from Experience with Scientific Advisory Committees in the Field of International Environmental Politics?. Global Challenges (2018).
- Epistemic communities and experts in health policy-making. European Journal of Public Health (2018).
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