Politics and interests in the Republic of Science

Title: Politics and interests in the Republic of Science
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: December 2003
Published In: Minerva
Description: The institutions of science are composed of communities with conflicting and overlapping interests. In the United States, the internal governance of science resembles the structure of republican government, particularly in its fragmentation, representation, and extension. This article calls upon Michael Polanyi's metaphor of a 'Republic of Science' in the context of American history and political theory, to examine the ways in which these interests are represented. Using the metaphor obliges us to ask about rules of citizenship in the 'Republic', and to determine whether those who pay for science should also be represented in its institutions.
Ivan Allen College Contributors:
Citation: Minerva. 41. Issue 4. 305 - 325. ISSN 0026-4695. DOI 10.1023/B:MINE.0000005153.03357.48.
Related Departments:
  • School of Public Policy