The Tensions in Analyst-Policymaker Relationship example

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The Tensions in Analyst-Policymaker Relationship

Tensions in analyst-policymaker relations have existed over the decades, involving numerous arguments over the differences in opinions. Policymakers and analysts have been overcoming the cognitive limitations, carefully weighing alternative explanations or conclusions, aiming to aid judgment on important issues and cope with the competing hypotheses.

Such tensions are an integral part of the interaction between policymakers and analysts, as long as they are determined by the sector-specific issues. In spite of the fact that this relationship is important, there is still room for improvement, for its certain flaws may be fixed and its overall productivity may be increased to achieve better results.

Tensions in Analyst-Policymaker Relationship

Being in charge of setting the policy framework, policymakers often state that their criticism of the outcomes of the intelligence analysis is quite normal and actually belongs to the field of their professional competence. On their behalf, analysts, who always piece together information from numerous sources, are not always able to find a rational kernel in the extensive policymakers’ criticism, which varies greatly in intensity and content. Taking into account the fact that policymaking and intelligence analysis are essentially inseparable, a golden means between these extremes should be found to manage recurring tensions and make such relationship more productive.

Sources of Conflict in Analyst-Policymaker Relations

There are numerous sources of conflict in analyst-policymaker relations that create tensions, however, ethical and political considerations are believed to be the most significant ones. Research data that have implications for politics may cause numerous arguments between the analysts and policymakers. In fact, the analysts’ findings often influence the national and local policy, sometimes causing undesirable changes, if they contradict to the ideological position of the decision makers, or serve as a legalization of a policy position that has been decided upon by the government officials.
In the first case, the research results discovered by the analysts may be dismissed by the policymakers, while in the second case they can be hyperbolized to support their ideology. For instance, the President’s Commission revealed that pornography was not dangerous and also potentially beneficial, and this evidence actually implied that pornography should have been legalized. Policymakers were unwilling to respond to the report or reveal the abovementioned findings, so it was never acted on.
Ethical and political considerations may also have a serious impact on the objectivity of the analysts’ findings, which is proved by another example. The commission, which was supposed to investigate the reasons for the terrorists’ attacks on the United States of America on 11 September 2001, found “no credible evidence” that Saddam Hussein was actively involved in them, helping al-Qaeda. Nevertheless, the Bush administration was persistent in stating that he did help the terrorists.

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