Role and Functions of Experts in the Process of Governmental Decision Making

Abstract

Paper is devoted to analysis of functions of expert knowledge during of decision-making process and of the regimes ‘expert-power’. We propose to stress two main functions of expert knowledge - instrumental, when governmental officials really interested of expert’s opinion for concrete problems, and symbolic, when experts must legitimize some decisions adopted previously. Paper based at the preliminary results of research, which includes near to ten expert interview in Moscow and St. Petersburg. According to preliminary conclusion of research the relationship between functions of expert knowledge changes during process of decision making: instrumental function used at the stages of problem’s identification and discussions of possible ways of its decision more frequently. Symbolic function used frequently with the purpose of public opinion creation, supporting of adopted decisions.