New Book Examines How the Weaponization of Expertise Fuels Populism
Rutgers Law Professors Jacob Hale Russell and Dennis Patterson published their new book, The Weaponization of Expertise: How Elites Fuel Populism (MIT Press). They developed the book out of a course taught at Rutgers Law, “Populism and the Law.” In the book published on March 4, they argue that misuse of experts has contributed to the rise of populism, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a key example. The book critiques “three dimensions of a flawed elite mindset”—condescension, technocratic paternalism, and intellectual tyranny—that stifle debate and contribute to polarization. The authors call for a more honest and open approach to public discourse to avoid repeating the mistakes made during the pandemic and to prevent future crises from further undermining trust in expertise.
Jacob Hale Russell is an Associate Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School. Jacob began his career as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. He now teaches business and property law. He studies the design of policy and institutions that are fair and responsive. His scholarship examines how insights from political science, psychology, finance, and economics can improve the effectiveness of legal policies and institutions
Dennis Patterson is a Board of Governors Professor at Rutgers Law School and Professor of Legal Philosophy at Surrey Law School in the United Kingdom. His expertise is in commercial law, trade law, and legal philosophy. He has been a visiting professor at the universities of Berlin, Vienna, Texas, and Georgetown. He is also the author of numerous books and articles in law and philosophy.