Evidence based policy-making or chasing chimeras? A study of the EU PNR program through its controversies
(2015) European International Studies Association Annual Conference — Location: Giardini di Naxos, Sicily, Italy
Files
No attached file found for this publication.
Details
- Authors
Bellanova, Rocco 
- Abstract
- The possible set up a European Union (EU) program for the collection and processing of passenger name records (PNR) for law enforcement purposes is again at the top of the EU agenda. Since the first Commission proposal of 2007, an impressive series of impact assessments, opinions, hearings, and studies have been produced in relation to this hi-tech security program. Yet, many controversies are still open, including about the need of further evidence, and the creation of the system may be considered a chimera. Hence, the EU PNR program may provide an interesting case study on the functioning of evidence based policy-making. This contribution argues that following these controversies offers an original viewpoint on EU security policy making. It permits to delve into the material – the evidence produced to support, morph or question policy making choices – so to better grasp not only what is at stake but also what is already produced in the very process of security policy making. Furthermore, focusing on controversies permits to understand how something becomes ‘evidence’ in policy making, especially when new technologies are at stake. Ultimately, this permits to pose anew the question of politics in relation to the growing expectations on evidence based policy-making.
- Affiliations
Citations
Bellanova, R. (2015). Evidence based policy-making or chasing chimeras? A study of the EU PNR program through its controversies. European International Studies Association Annual Conference, Giardini di Naxos, Sicily, Italy. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/259545