There are many ways in which conflicts can arise through the application of research in policy
development and politics.
Conflicts may occur from the different interpretations of research
findings and data. Policy conflicts often include divergence in policy positions among two o
more participants, the unwillingness to compromise, and the perception of threats from the
position of the opponent (Weible & Heikkila, 2017). There may be disagreements about what
action to take to ensure a favorable outcome, or the goals and interests of each group may
differ causing conflicts among them. Tensions may arise politically as the fight for power and
influence ensues among the different groups (Mason et al., 2021). Additionally, as each group
competes for influence and resources to push their agenda forward, conflicts are a guaranteed
by-product of that.
Another way that conflicts may arise in research, policy, and politics is if there’s any lack of
consensus about the best way to address or solve an issue, disagreements may arise regarding
the designing and implementation of the policies. This was evident during the COVID-19
pandemic where research, policy, and politics intersected as it all played out on television.
Consequently, division and conflict can also be created between two different ideologies, when
the research is used only to support one side of that debate.
In managing the impact and preventing pitfalls, disagreements should be handled quickly,
collaboratively, and openly clearly stating the methods used and the objectives clearly. There
should be mutual respect among presenters, and everyone should have an open mind while
listening to understand the viewpoint of the opposer. Ultimately, the outcomes and outputs of
conflicts in policymaking should produce effective feedback which will shape the policy setting.
Mason, D. J., Dickson, E. L., McLemore, M. R., & Perez, G. A. (2021a).
Policy & Politics in Nursing
and Health Care
. Elsevier.
Weible, C. M., & Heikkila, T. (2017). Policy conflict framework.
Policy Sciences
,
50
(1), 23–40.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-017-9280-6
