Reputation and Power: Organizational Image and Pharmaceutical Regulation at the FDA

Categories: Law, Politics & Social Sciences

Political scientist Daniel Carpenter tells how the US Food and Drug Administration became one of the most powerful regulators in the world. He argues that its power rests on its reputation. Drawing on decades of archival research, Carpenter traces the agency's history from the early twentieth century, through the thalidomide episode and the rise of clinical trials. He shows how concern for its image has shaped the FDA's decisions, its relations with drug companies and medical science itself.

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• Balaji Srinivasan: “If you read Reputation and Power… it's amazing, amazing book. It's written by a guy, Daniel Carpenter, smart guy.”