ABSTRACT
We live in an age of expertise. Expertise is a key resource in the formulation of policies and experts are powerful shadow players in the political process. We meet them every day in the news where they analyse and comment on recent events and trends. Experts identify what is important and what deserves attention. They are called upon to reduce uncertainty and to solve public or judicial controversies. They provide evidence for policy and frames of references to interpret trends, patterns or the behaviour of actors. Expertise mediates between different forms of knowledge: scientific and technological knowledge, legal and economic knowledge, or political knowledge.
