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

802 Eric Trist
the clientele systems critical for the development of the knowledge base. Adverse
effects of these kinds exist in most countries at the present time, quite often to
a serious degree.
12. A shortage in social science manpower must be anticipated, both with
respect to quantity and quality. Universities should be encouraged to expand
their teaching facilities in the social sciences and governments and other spon-
sors to provide the funds. The best results may be expected from the establish-
ment of comprehensive schools of social science, including the full range of the
basic disciplines, at both undergraduate and graduate level. Multi-professor, as
opposed to single professor, departments are to be preferred. A central objective
would be to establish a minimum number of centres of excellence which could
attain ‘critical mass’. The highest priority in many countries would be to intro-
duce accelerated forms of graduate training.
I 3. Professional as distinct from basic education requires parallel accelera-
tion. Only through the extension and enlargement of the social professions will
the social sciences be effectively applied in user-organizations. These profes-
sions are of two kinds: those directly deriving from the social sciences, such as
administration and education; those depending on a substantial ingredient of
the social sciences, such as engineering, medicine, law, architecture, urban and
other forms of planning. Many of the key decisions concerning the future will
be made by members of these professions. It is essential that social science un-
derstanding be built into their education.
Small countries
14. The smaller the country the more severe become the problems of scientific
choice. It is not practicable in small countries for social research to develop in
more than a limited number of directions. Countries with less than 5 million
inhabitants represent the extreme case; but any country with less than 20 mil-
lion inhabitants faces serious dilemmas. Even considerably larger countries
cannot ‘do everything.’ These dilemmas persist even when the country concerned
is among the more advanced. If more complex and sophisticated resources are
now available the problem still remains of using them to achieve ‘critical mass’
in more than a limited number of areas.
15. One direction of solution would be to establish regional linkages between
a group of countries with close affinities in culture, language and geographical
setting. The number of centres of excellence available to the region as a whole
could then be maximized. Given their traditions, small countries often display a
‘distinctive competence’ in particular research areas. These are the foundation
on which to build ‘comparative advantage’. Small countries may offer the best
environmental opportunities for the pursuit of certain classes of problem.
With respect to these they may become wosld centres.
16. Small countries may offer greater leeway for innovation once the break
with academic traditionalism has been made. The enormous professional ma-
chines characteristic of large countries may hamper innovation. It is noteworthy
that a country such as Norway has become conspicuous in peace research, cross-
cultural studies in political science and action research in industrial democracy.