Suchergebnisse

This study examines the many aspects of the large business corporation including its historical evolution, its relation to the law, its financing, its contribution to technology, its role as employer, race and gender issues within it and its role as political actor

IN AN ESSAY REVIEWING JOHN MUELLER'S "RETREAT FROM DOOMSDAY" CARL KAYSEN OF M.I.T. EXAMINES FIVE CENTURIES OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC CHANGES THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE LIKELIHOOD OF WAR AMONG MAJOR POWERS. HE ARGUES THAT MUELLER IS RIGHT IN HIS CONCLUSION THAT WAR AMONG INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES IS BECOMING OBSOLESCENT, BUT WRONG IN HIS ANALYSIS OF WHY THIS IS SO AND IN HIS DISMISSAL OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ACCORDING TO KAYSEN, MAJOR WARS HAVE BECOME UNLIKELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY UNPROFITAL

Deeply influenced by their experiences in World War II, the military services and the Department of Defense became important and supportive funders of academic science—chiefly the physical sciences—in the postwar period. They made an implicit contract with the academy, providing support under the going rules: the pursuit of new knowledge; investigator initiative; publication of the results; and some form of peer review as the allocative instrument. In return, the academy offered new science and trained scientists. The relation persists, but changes in the political context, the internal capabilities of the Defense Department, and the growth of other forms of support have changed it in a long-lasting way. Nonetheless, there are good reasons on both sides to continue the relation, and a willingness by both to accept the terms of the implicit contract would allow it to continue.

Influenced by their experiences in WWII, the military services & the Dept of Defense became important & supportive funders of academic science -- chiefly the physical sciences -- in the postwar period. By the 1950s an implicit contract existed between the defense establishment & universities that provided support for scientific research within what is termed the US academic style, characterized by: the pursuit of new knowledge; investigator initiative; publication of results; & some form of peer review as the allocative instrument. In return, the universities offered new science & trained scientists. The relationship persists, although it has been altered by changes in the political context, the internal capabilities of the Defense Dept, & the growth of other forms of support. However, both sides have good reasons to continue the relation, & their willingness to accept the terms of the implicit contract could allow it to continue. Modified HA

Commenting on the work, "Limits to growth," by D. H. Meadows and others, 1972.