Is it <i>really</i> about the evidence? argument, persuasion, and the power of ideas in cultural policy

In the move towards a supposedly “evidence-based” cultural policy, “evidence” is rarely main driver of decision-making. If not actual basis policymaking, then what its real role? Why there so much “bad” or unverifiable evidence impact in policy documents? The article suggests focusing on recent developments theory for more accurate and sophisticated approaches connection between role that ideas values have shaping policy. A closer engagement with theories formation demonstrates policymaking has fundamentally discursive character: it based ideas, processes argumentation persuasion, can never be an ideologically neutral exercise. concludes studies benefit from systematic theory.