Nationalism and Internationalism in Science, 1880-1939: Four Studies of the Nobel Population [Book Review]

Abstract

The 1970s witnessed a decline in traditional forms of international movement among scientists. Although exchanges increased among Western European countries, particularly among those of the European Communities, transatlantic interactions deteriorated. Many qualified scientists and engineers were meanwhile migrating from less developed countries to the West. By contrast, during the late 1980s there seems to have been a steady growth in transnational research ventures, investment and diversification; an increasing replacement of public with private funding; and a move towards local and regional research in science and technology centres in Europe and the United States. These trends are closely related to ideas about nationalism and internationalism in science, ideas which themselves are products of a long historical process. In this engaging book, Elisabeth Crawford explores the 'rise and fall' of internationalism in science between 1880 and 1939, addressing the complex relationship between national scientific elites and their governments, institutions and foreign colleagues.