New York City's needle exchange policy and the intersection of science, activism, and politics: A case study of activist research and social change.
Item
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Title
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New York City's needle exchange policy and the intersection of science, activism, and politics: A case study of activist research and social change.
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Identifier
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AAI3127849
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identifier
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3127849
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Creator
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Barreras, Ricardo E.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Michelle Fine
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Date
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2004
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Social | Sociology, Public and Social Welfare
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Abstract
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An extensive body of literature has been concerned with the problem of the nonuse or misuse of social science in policy making, and the basic disconnect between what we know about social problems and how they are dealt with through governmental action. Most research on the intersection of social science and policy has limited its analysis to one particular type of audience: policy makers. As a result, the role of activism as a critical source of political change, as an audience and consumer of social science research, and as a valid and important role for social scientists to engage in, has been greatly neglected. Taking, as a case study, the political struggle over needle exchange policy in New York City, this research examined the multiple roles social science and activism played in promoting policy change. Data for the case study came from three sources: (1) published material, including academic publications, newspaper articles, and newsletters from academic, advocacy and activist organizations; (2) interviews with individuals who played a central role in this history, including researchers, activists, and policy makers and government officials; and (3) archival documents accessed from the private records of individuals interviewed, including private correspondences, internal documents of organizations, court transcripts, photographs, and video documentaries. The results of this study provide strong evidence that activism, the overlap between activist, social scientist, and policy networks, as well as social science knowledge itself, all played a key role in the success of the needle exchange movement. The results also support the idea that empirical evidence, while playing an important, and perhaps necessary role, is often not enough to promote policy change. These findings challenge the science-advocacy dichotomy, pointing to activist and advocates as vital sources of social change, and therefore, key beneficiaries of the resources that social science can provide. Some of the disconnects and tensions between social scientists and activists are discussed and recommendations for how to better support activism, social movements, and broader policy struggles through the methods and discourses of social science are made.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
