Managerial Society and the Emergence of Black Policy Experts

This paper examines critically the ascendance and roles of Black policy specialists as major contributors to the public policy discussion of America's postindustrial-managerial society during the 1980s. The paper looks at two theories of managerial policymaking-one in which experts dominate and another in which politicians control. The study argues that neither theory fully explains the complex process of public policymaking; rather, there is a convergence of power and knowledge-politicians and specialists. This dynamic gives rise to the growing politicization of knowledge and experts. The focus then turns to the rise of Black conservative and liberal policy technocrats and their prescriptions for dealing with urban poverty. The mounting convergence of power and expertise, and veritable politics of knowledge, in the managerial state increasingly exclude ordinary citizens from process of making public decisions. However, through struggle citizens will need to intervene in the process from below.