A political role for knowledge in public policymaking is based on alternative assumptions about the knowledge of professional social inquirers (PSI's), the structure and purpose of government institutions, and the process by which public decisions are made. The value of PSI knowledge as a political resource is largely derived from beliefs the public holds about it which can be subsumed under the label of knowledge utilization. Because normative beliefs often contradict democratic principles, there is a fundamental discontinuity between reality and expectations against which the adequacy of public policymaking is evaluated. The case study involving the elderly-crime issue demonstrates the discrepancy between beliefs and actions of participants who are actively involved in the issue. The case study also illustrates how knowledge development itself may represent symbolic action. The author suggests that processes shaping the origin and consideration of legislative policy alternatives, as well as the design and approval of bureaucratic programs, are not necessarily connected to knowledge development and dissemination. The Federal Government's continued funding of social research, its role as a major collector and repository of social statistics, and procedural requirements in government that represent a symbolic commitment to the knowledge utilization perspective reinforce normative beliefs about the value and utility of knowledge in policymaking. Normative standards are not only unattainable, but are also incompatible with democratic norms and decisionmaking processes, and their continued dominance involves potentially damaging consequences. Chapter footnotes, figures, and bibliography