Supporting Research in the Social Sciences

In: Government & opposition: an international journal of comparative politics, Band 24, Heft 1, S. 15-27

Abstract

Funding social science research is argued to be in the same league as funding natural science or engineering science, because it tends to be as expensive, as competitive internationally, & as in need of support for basic, not immediately useful, projects. Although there is not enough money for all interesting lines of investigation, funding must be maintained at a level that sustains & reproduces a vigorous scientific community. The balance between institutes & individual researchers is addressed. While institutes provide some stability, some must be temporary. International relations in social science funding must be a combination of cooperation & competition. A. Waters