Professionalism, Advocacy,and Credibility: A Futile Cycle?

It is axiomatic that knowledge is power, especially in politics. Wildlife professionals are sources of political power that results from superior scientific knowledge concerning wildlife policy issues. The wildlife management environment has become increasingly politicized and polarized as interest groups compete for policy outcomes that support their particular wildlife values. As a result, wildlife professionals are tempted and pressured to choose sides and advocate outcomes that favor one set of values over competing values. The answer lies in foregoing issue advocacy in favor of process advocacy. Properly structured and implemented, civic science as a form of process advocacy has the potential to capitalize professional reformation, transform public agencies, and revitalize democracy in action.