Publisher's Synopsis
Science and politics have intertwined throughout history, a relationship that is particularly relevant today in the face of global challenges such as health crises and climate change. However, this fundamental link for our societies hides nuances and tensions that deserve an in-depth look. In this revealing work, renowned policy expert Geoff Mulgan dissects the growing influence of science on power and its implications for modern governance. With lucid and perceptive prose, he examines how states have historically exploited scientific knowledge as a driver of expansion, prestige and economic development. The book immerses us in the most pressing contemporary dilemmas: from the management of potentially disruptive technologies -- such as nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence or synthetic biology -- to the search for a balance between scientific rigor and social needs. Mulgan reveals the central paradox of our time: while science pursues verifiable truths, politics navigates the ocean of perceptions and values. Far from being satisfied with the diagnosis, the author proposes an innovative path towards the future: new models of democratic organization that allow us to take advantage of the transformative potential of science while safeguarding the common good. A fundamental work for understanding --and rethinking-- the complex intersection between knowledge and power in the 21st century.
