Problematizing 'wickedness': a critique of the wicked problems concept, from philosophy to practice and beyond

The concept of ‘wicked problems’ is a major current in the fields of policy analysis and planning. However, the basis of the concept has not been sufficiently examined. This paper undertakes a thoroughgoing critique,... [ view full abstract ]

The concept of ‘wicked problems’ is a major current in the fields of policy analysis and planning. However, the basis of the concept has not been sufficiently examined. This paper undertakes a thoroughgoing critique, refuting it on philosophical and practical grounds. We argue instead that the policy sciences already had better conceptualizations of public problems before Rittel and Webber’s formulation. We return to this literature and build upon it by reframing wickedness within an alternative philosophy of questioning and the policy work approach to theorizing policy practice. Wickedness is reconceptualized in terms of the distance between those who question or inquire into a policy problem. This is primarily a political distance, articulated in terms of ideas, interests and institutions. Wickedness arises only when wide political distances are explicitly maintained, such that partial answers cannot be reached. Practitioners deal with wickedness by a dual practical strategy of closing down and opening up sub-questions to the problem in order to structure them such that they are amenable to action through partial answers. This reaffirms a politics of partisan mutual adjustment and serial strategic analysis