<<Home

In-And-Outers and Moonlighters: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of the Impact of Policymaking Exposure on IR Scholarship

Researchers:

Timeline:

2010-2011

Themes:

Policy-Academy Divide, International Relations Theory and Practice, TRIP Survey

Overview:

Some international relations (IR) scholars lament the divide that exists between the academic community and the policy community. Others celebrate it. In this paper, we test a core proposition advanced by advocates of bridging the policy-academy divide: that direct engagement in the policymaking process will make international relations scholars more adept at designing, undertaking, and communicating research in ways that are useful and relevant to policymakers. Using a quasi-experimental estimation strategy, we evaluate whether and to what extent direct exposure to the policymaking process influences how IR scholars select publication outlets. We define and evaluate policymaking exposure in two ways: periods of public service in which faculty members temporarily vacate their university positions to work for governments or inter-governmental organizations; and instances in which faculty members undertake substantial consulting assignments for government agencies and inter-governmental organizations. Our findings suggest that "in-and-outers" -- faculty members who temporarily leave the ivory tower to accept policy positions -- return to the academy with new perspectives and publication priorities. By contrast, we find no policymaking exposure effect among "moonlighters." Our results suggest that IR scholars are no more likely to publish in policy journals after doing parttime consulting work for governments and IOs.