Under the Influence

Philosopher and author James Garvey examines the rise of behavioural science at the heart of our politics and its key role during the pandemic. There was a large amount of attention paid to the government's slogan during the Covid crisis that politics would 'follow the science'. But not just branches of the natural sciences, like epidemiology, medicine and virology. Our national politics is also being informed to an unprecedented degree by behavioural science – taking advice from experts with a remarkable understanding of human motivation, decision-making and action; how to steer whole populations from one mode of behaviour to another in a crisis, not only for medical purposes but also as a tool for government and social order. The Behavioural Insights Team was called to action and the Independent Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) convened, reporting directly to SAGE who reported to No.10. James Garvey, who has written on the history of persuasion, explores the deep and ever-more powerful relationship between politics, government and behavioural science. What are the key ideas here and where did this alliance come from - what have been its strengths and weaknesses? James asks whether behavioural science techniques are being used to circumvent more traditional routes of democracy, such as manifestos, public debate and even our political consent. But also how behavioural insight is illuminating problems governments have found difficult or even intractable in the past, upturning older models of the public, benefiting the whole. He explores how online and digital technology might be used to amplify these techniques. Is this a pivotal moment for our politics? Contributors include Brooke Rogers, chair of the Cabinet Office Behavioural Science Expert Group and co-chair of the Independent Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B), behavioural economist Cass Sunstein (who co-authored the bestseller ‘Nudge’), public health psychologist and member of SPI-B Chris Bonell, lawyer Susie Alegre, who specialises on freedom of thought and digital rights, author Peter Pomerantsev, who writes about propaganda and political influence, economist Shaun Hargreaves-Heap, social psychologist and SPI-B advisor Stephen Reicher and David Halpern, Chief Executive of the Behavioural Insights Team. Presenter: James Garvey Producer: Simon Hollis A Brook Lapping production for BBC Radio 4