Malignity in policy sciences: a theory and framework

Abstract This article introduces and conceptualizes the notion of malignity in policy sciences, examining how public policies can become misaligned with the public interest—whether by design or through the dynamics of the policy process. The special issue underscores the urgent need to reintegrate normative and ethical considerations into policy design, analysis, and implementation. In the context of democratic backsliding, administrative misuse, and technocratic drift, we call for greater attention to the “dark side” of policymaking, where policies are co-opted and distorted to serve marginal or private interests at the expense of democratic values and public interests. The issue advances a theoretical framework that defines malignity as the intentional diversion of state mechanisms away from the public interest. The contributions explore the features and mechanisms of malign policymaking and offer strategies for identifying, mitigating, and responding to its occurrence.