It is the pressures of politics that often accounts for the wide gap between the scholar's and official's worldview, some professors say.

"Policy makers face different pressures," says Cabot Professor of Social Ethics Herbert C. Kelman, who has officially acted as a mediator between Israeli and Palestinian groups in the Middle East. "They are subject to the political realities of the time."

These pressures contribute to the short-sightedness in government goals, Kelman says. Policy makers are faced with many concerns in a limited amount of time and do not have the opportunity to examine the many facets of a problem, such as the one facing strategists in the Middle East.

Role of the Scholar

Yet Kelman and others say it is the role of the scholar in government to offset the imbalance between long-term and immediate planning. The scholar should initiate an environment that encourages broad thinking, Kelman says.

For scholars, government appointments offer many benefits. Some say the experience allows them to apply their scholarship to practical problems. Others say the opportunity is educational in itself.

"Some scholars find that scholarship is enriched by involvement from time to time with the government," says Ashton B. Carter, professor of public policy at the Kennedy School. "It is the hope to improve the world we live in."

Says Carnesale, "There are those who want to apply scholarship. There are those who want the experience of scholarship. You will find that peculiar to scholars."

Despite the great opportunity and prestige that Washington appointments offer both schools and their faculty, Kelman says there are some negative reprecussions. Some academics become more like politicians, he says, responding to pressure and offering short-term answers to complex questions.

"Policy makers say, 'you scholars have the leisure to think these things through, but we don't have the leisure,'" says Kelman. "And scholars want to be a part of the process and not seem naive so they fall into the same pattern [of thinking]."

Campbell, however, says the pressures work both ways. "It is a two-way street," he says. "Scholars learn the day to day pressures on policy making and policy makers get a long-term perspective."

Harvard's Policies

Harvard, well-known for its flexible 'revolving door' policy, allows scholars to shuttle between their Unversity appointment and their Washington responsibilities. For two years, they can remain a member of the faculty. After that length of time, scholars must decide whether to return to Cambridge or remain in their post.

For most leaves of absence, faculty members are required to return after one year. But Washington posts carry the promise of special consideration because administrators feel that one year is too short a time for an academic to have substantial influence on public policy.

"The reason why there is two years is we feel that public service is important," says President Derek C. Bok. "Two years is pretty much the minimum amount of time. It is impossible to take an assignment like [a government post] for less than two years."

Continues Bok, "We're a little worried about more than two years because if you stay more than two years, your metabolism begins to change...you get so into the excitement and pace that it becomes difficult to just come back and be a professor again."