Why Don’t Sociologists (or Anthropologists) Have a Larger Role in Policy Making?

A recent article in the New York Times makes a great case for putting sociologists and the insights of sociology in a more prominent role in the policy making process. Why aren’t sociologists and anthropologists asked more frequently for advice about policy matters?  It’s a good question.  While the SOAN blog often highlights the impact that our faculty and students are having on, say, the global response to Ebola or climate change policy and environmental justice, we don’t often see a “chief anthropologist/sociologist” in the highest levels of government, think tanks, or NGOs.  My theory: the explanations that we provide for many questions of societal import challenge existing conventions and structures, meaning that, while our explanations and data might be valid, they are hard to incorporate without larger conversations about power and inequality.  What do you think, SOAN community?  Comment here or email me to share your ideas.