Main trends of research in the social and human ... - unesdoc - Unesco

The organization and financing of research 697
cause (along with Portugal) it has contributed the ‘culture of origin’ to Latin
America.
17. Very small developing countries pose special problems as regards ‘scien-
tific choice’. Ireland was selected as a comparatively well documented case
within a Western context. This selection was made because a process is in
evidence there which is actively involving the social sciences in problems of
national development. It was made also because social science problems in such
a country would provide a useful comparison with those of small developing
countries in other parts of the world, where regional, historical, linguistic and
cultural contexts are entirely different and at a greater distance from the
societies which have hitherto provided the centres of scientific advance.
18. The developing countries in other parts of the world could be treated
only in very broad groups such as South East Asia, Africa and Latin America.
In most of these countries internal resources available to the social sciences are
meagre. In some they are non-existent. This had to be borne in mind in con-
sidering reports which reflected aspiration rather than feasibility. Moreover,
relations between these countries and external sources of social science support
have often had unintended effects in inhibiting local developments. They pose
problems which have still to be confronted. India was selected as the target
country for Asia. As an exceptionally large developing country bearing one of
the great historical civilizations, India must be regarded as a major source of
scientific talent at some time in the future. Yet barriers exist in the values and
structure of the traditional society and in language differences. As Britain was
the former colonial power, the development of the sciences has reflected British
institutions and predelictions.
19. Little material was received from Africa, especially fom the Arab states
where in the next few decades a good deal of African scientific potential may
well lie. As many emergent African countries are small, advantage followed
from choosing a small country; and, moreover, one which reflected French
rather than British influence, the latter having been exemplified in India. The
best documentation was on the former French area, through organizations in
Paris which have maintained close educational links with former French terri-
tories. Senegal was chosen as the target country to examine the problems of
those parts of Africa for which French provides the ‘scientific access language’.
20. Latin America expresses a unique configuration. Unusual linguistic and
cultural homogeneity has been established through several centuries of Spanish
and Portuguese colonization. The values of this tradition did not encourage the
growth of science when the Latin American countries gained independence in
the 19th century. There has supervened a ‘special relationship’ - of scientific
dependence - with the United States, which requires assessment. In addition
to country reports and personal communications, the Centro Latinoamericano
de Investigaciones en Ciencias Sociales at Rio de Janeiro provided material on
a regional basis.
Analytical ,framework
21. In order to analyse the material it was necessary to develop a general