www.waronscience.com
The Republican War on Science
by Chris Mooney
Basic Books | September 2005 | ISBN 0465046754
Recommended by Caspar Henderson: Chris Mooney documents the strategies and tactics of the religious right, some big business interests and their allies in the United States to undermine science and the scientific method on which the future of humanity depends.
The book is especially timely given controversy over climate change and in the US intelligent design. It provides some depth, context and analysis on some critical issues and political struggles in US and world politics.
I value Chriss clear, consistent and rigorous journalism for outlets such as The American Prospect and his own blog, and commissioned him for openDemocracys debate on the politics of climate change (see Kant and climate change).
This book may help to move the agenda forward, although his recommendations for what should be done tend more to re-articulate the challenges than provide an actionable road map.
It should be read in conjunction with lots of other work out there, from Toxic Sludge is Good For You to Thomas Franks excellent work on US cultural politics, and from RealClimate on the Wall Street Journal, to the efficient debunking of ID such as this, and this (as well as light relief such as The Onion on Intelligent Falling, and the case for the flying spaghetti monster).
In particular, liberals should not underestimate the emotional pulling power and organizational smarts of those engaged in anti-scientific thought (see for example Beyond the News), which makes it far from sure that, as Winston Churchill put it: Americans invariably do the right thing, after having first exhausted every other alternative. (See Caspars blog for a longer version of this review.)
What the publisher says: Science has never been more crucial to deciding the political issues facing the country. Yet science and scientists have less influence with the federal government than at any time since the Eisenhower administration.
In the White House and Congress today, findings are reported in a politicized manner; spun or distorted to fit the speakers agenda; or, when theyre too inconvenient, ignored entirely. On a broad array of issues stem cell research, climate change, abstinence education, mercury pollution, and many others the Bush administrations positions fly in the face of overwhelming scientific consensus.
In The Republican War on Science, Chris Mooney ties together the disparate strands of the attack on science into a compelling and frightening account of our governments increasing unwillingness to distinguish between legitimate research and ideologically driven pseudoscience.
About the author: Chris Mooney, a journalist specializing in the relation of science and politics, is Washington correspondent for Seed magazine. He has written for The American Prospect, Mother Jones, Wired, the Washington Post, Slate and other publications. The Republican War on Science is his first book. His website is at http://www.chriscmooney.com.