Mapping the use of knowledge in policymaking: barriers and facilitators from a subjectivist perspective (1990–2020)

Abstract The use of knowledge and evidence in policymaking is a recurrent topic research due to its scientific policy relevance. existing expansive body literature has been scrutinised various ways grasp the dimensions utilisation policymaking, although most this monosectoral focus based on very general criteria analysis that do not completely account for complexity making. This paper overcomes limitation by enlightening epistemological divide field between an objectivist subjectivist perspective distinguishing two different focuses literature: making Based analytical distinction, presents original unprecedented systematic, intersectoral metareview considering thirty-year period 1990 2020 (approximately 1,400 were selected fine-grained analysis). offers broader more detailed map with clear idea distribution interest among fields, better classification theoretical/empirical content goals scholars adopt novel and, above all, types conditions favour or disfavour significant role policymaking. Ultimately, identifies three highly relevant components can facilitate constrain than others: values/ideology/beliefs, actors’ relationships, capacities.