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internationalisation in science in the prism of bibliometric indicators

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<strong><strong>in</strong>ternationalisation</strong> <strong>of</strong> topics<br />

The drifts <strong>of</strong> nationalism and ideology <strong>in</strong> <strong>science</strong> dramatically<br />

curbed scientific exchanges dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> XXth century. The Republic <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>science</strong> wishes to ignore borderl<strong>in</strong>es, but at <strong>the</strong> same time elitism and<br />

concentration are consubstantial to <strong>the</strong> community's norms and habits,<br />

expressed <strong>in</strong> skew distributions <strong>of</strong> output and "Mat<strong>the</strong>w effect". As we<br />

have stressed, <strong><strong>in</strong>ternationalisation</strong> <strong>of</strong> competition or cooperation does<br />

not promise a fad<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> borderl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> productivity maps. Nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y<br />

warrant that variety will be safeguarded, especially <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong><br />

heterodox thought and research topics. A particular question is about<br />

topics specific <strong>of</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g countries. Applied and field-based<br />

subjects are not likely to appear <strong>in</strong> prestigious competitive journals<br />

and may not f<strong>in</strong>d an echo <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational community. "Nationalism<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>science</strong>" which found some prestigious advocates, for example Raman 14<br />

<strong>in</strong> India, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> past century, can be seen as a refuge for address<strong>in</strong>g<br />

domestic issues (Arunachalam, 1997). The <strong>the</strong>matic orientations <strong>of</strong><br />

domestic research, <strong>in</strong>ternational research and diaspora have been found<br />

very different <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> a ultra-peripheral country (Bassecoulard<br />

et al., 2003). The marg<strong>in</strong>alisation <strong>of</strong> peripheral preoccupations <strong>in</strong><br />

agriculture, biology and medic<strong>in</strong>e would be a failure <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong><strong>in</strong>ternationalisation</strong>, which on o<strong>the</strong>r aspects br<strong>in</strong>gs hope for scientists<br />

and students to access <strong>in</strong>formation from everywhere.<br />

While restrictions to <strong>in</strong>ternational communication, competition,<br />

collaboration - and skilled manpower circulation - tend to fade,<br />

<strong>in</strong>frastructural factors, proximity effects, <strong>in</strong>ertia <strong>of</strong> networks<br />

constra<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rearrangements. Besides, like o<strong>the</strong>r globalisation<br />

processes, <strong><strong>in</strong>ternationalisation</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>science</strong> is a Janus Bifrons,<br />

convey<strong>in</strong>g antagonistic forces: on <strong>the</strong> one hand, through <strong>the</strong><br />

re<strong>in</strong>forcement <strong>of</strong> (imperfect) competition and Mat<strong>the</strong>w effect, it may<br />

secure or enhance dom<strong>in</strong>ant positions; on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand,<br />

<strong><strong>in</strong>ternationalisation</strong> can benefit to actors <strong>in</strong> transition or emerg<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ones.<br />

REFERENCES<br />

Amable, B., Barré, R., Boyer, R. (1997). Les Systèmes d'Innovation à<br />

l'Ere de la Globalisation. Paris: Economica<br />

Ansel<strong>in</strong>, L., Varga, A., Acs, Z. (1997). Local Geographic Spillovers<br />

between University Research and High Technology Innovations. Journal<br />

<strong>of</strong> Urban Economics, 42, 442-448<br />

Archibugi, D., Howells, J., Michie, J., (Eds) (1999). Innovation<br />

policy <strong>in</strong> a global economy. Cambridge Un. Press<br />

Arunachalam S. (1997) How relevant is medical research done <strong>in</strong> India?<br />

A study based on Medl<strong>in</strong>e. Current Science, 72 (12, 912-922<br />

14 Sir C.V. Raman, Nobel Prize <strong>of</strong> physics (1930)

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