From Sputnik to the knowledge-based society?
Science and Technology in the post-socialist space
Communist science and technology have been major objects of fascination for Western observers since the Sputnik shock of 1957. The formation of an extensive network of research institutes and the launch of gigantic construction and space exploration projects, which were the expression of state support, captured world attention and have fed both Western and Soviet imagination for decades. Loren Graham, an eminent historian of Soviet science, observed early in his career, that “the Soviet Union, notwithstanding its persecution of dissident scientists, was the most enthusiastic supporter of science and technology of all contemporary governments” (Graham 1967: viii). Indeed, science and technology occupied a very important place in Soviet policy, being a favourite tool of social and political reformers. The expectation was the scientific and technological development would lead to social and economic progress. In this sense Soviet ideology had the veneer of a knowledge society, though the planned economy proved to be an obstacle to innovation in many areas, and it is difficult to consider this economy as “knowledge based”.
The first reforms undertaken under M. Gorbachev were expected to contribute to economic and political transformation associated with the acceleration of scientific and technological progress and „glasnost“ (democratization and greater openness). Even so, until the collapse of the Soviet Union science and technology in the Eastern block remained almost exclusively the province of the government. The disintegration of the USSR precipitated a period of crisis in the S&T system, as the more radical market reforms deprived it suddenly of state support. Studies of science and technology in the post-Soviet space that came out in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of communist rule reflect this state of affairs in a kind of catastrophic discourse that focuses on the negative consequences of the transition such as the dramatic drop of public funding, the brain drain and the bankruptcy of some institutes and the collapse of different scientific schools. But although the crisis was very real, the market reforms had other consequences as well, contributing to the development of intellectual property rights, the emergence of private funding for S&T and private research organizations. These developments were introduced in order to intensify innovation in different fields of the economy.
As the nineties wore on, the crisis subsided and the catastrophic discourse has become misleading, as it obscures the many positive developments going on. There is, of course, no consensus among analysts on the state of science and technology in the post-Soviet space. Opinions vary widely, with some observers proclaiming the “death of science” and expressing doubts regarding the possibility of its revival while others point to encouraging results, high tech developments and other dynamic processes that may signal the renaissance of Russian science. Similar processes have been observed in other post-socialist countries. In this regard it is essential to take a more sober view of recent developments in S&T in this area.
Our working group intends to move beyond the catastrophic discourse that has preoccupied analysts throughout the nineties and examine the changing roles of science and technology in the post-Soviet space. Our theoretical concerns, as well as our methodological tools, are grounded in the discipline of science and technology studies. S&TS is a young and dynamic discipline with a rich body of theoretical work and an eclectic tool box of methods adapted from a number of other social sciences. What this means for the organization of this working group is that it can accommodate a wide variety of disciplinary approaches, providing its members with the benefit of having access to the expertise and insight of colleagues who possess different disciplinary backgrounds but share common research questions.
Expected outcomes
This working group will produce a series of original working papers examining the changing roles and institutional arrangements of science and technology in the post-Soviet space. The results of the group’s research and collaboration will be presented in workshops and publications. Ideally, the result of the group’s efforts would be a workshop followed by an edited volume.
Working Group Coordinator
Anna Geltzer, Cornell University, Science and Technology Studies, PhD
Researcher;
‘Evidence-based medial practice in the USA and Russia’;
MA John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master’s Program, New York University.
Members
Natalia Glebovskaya, Institute for Science and Technology Studies, Bielefeld University
Further members to be confirmed.
last modified: 2006-10-02
