Political TA : Opening up the political debate. Stimulating early engagement of parliamentarians and policy makers on emerging technologies - Attempt by the Rathenau Instituur

Political technology assessment (TA) is aimed at informing and contributing to opinion formation of both members of parliament and policy makers. The modern practice of political TA presents a mix of investigation, interaction and communication activities. At the beginning of the century the TA community realised that good communication skills and (personal) links with politicians and policy makers are crucial for improving the impact of TA on the political debate. This chapter zooms in on this communicative turn and the way it influences the practice and methodology of political TA. It does so by describing various attempts made by the Rathenau Instituut, the Dutch national technology assessment (TA) organization, to involve parliamentarians and policy makers in the field of nanotechnology, or broader converging technologies. The Rathenau Instituut is institutionally positioned within the scientific domain, and outside the parliament and the government. Still its institutional task is to stimulate the political debate on science and technology. Getting out of the scientific domain and going into the political sphere requires so-called boundary work. This chapter illustrates and reflects on the way the Rathenau Instituut performs such boundary work. The basis for this is a trustworthy identity based on the scientific quality of its products and its quality as an organizer of participatory events. In addition, the TA organisation has to build up connections of trust to the parliament and government. Seizing opportunities to cooperate with MPs or policy makers is an important way to actively involve them in the debate on emerging technologies and building up a long-term relationship of trust between the TA institute and the political system.