Crisis decision-making and the dilemma of knowledge and action
What to do? Political-administrative authorities are expected to answer this pertinent question when faced with a crisis, as it is a precondition for an adequate response. Fundamentally political, the question touches upon an essential aspect of politics and government: how to act appropriately and...
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| Publicat a: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/irpp, |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Idioma: | Anglais |
| Publicat: |
International Review of Public Policy
2025
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| Accés en línia: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Sumari: | What to do? Political-administrative authorities are expected to answer this pertinent question when faced with a crisis, as it is a precondition for an adequate response. Fundamentally political, the question touches upon an essential aspect of politics and government: how to act appropriately and justifiably, particularly when uncertainty involves a serious knowledge gap. In this essay the nature of the dilemma of knowledge and action is explored and theoretically reflected upon. Adopting insights from political theory, it is argued that seeking balanced judgement on the basis of accepted authority goes beyond crisis decision-making in isolation. Much depends on the degree to which decision-making settings are organized to enable appropriate lines of consultation and coordination. Ultimately, crisis communication may entail publicly acknowledging insufficient knowledge when faced with the need to act. To a certain extent, institutionalizing these ways of dealing with the dilemma of knowledge and action can compensate for knowledge gaps. Hence, crisis denial based on individual uncertainty can be avoided. |
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