Repressive countries avoid controversial research, analysis finds

Data reveal that countries such as China and Saudi Arabia produce only a tiny fraction of 바카라사이트 history and political science papers of democracies

June 23, 2016
Political climate and controversial research (23 June 2016)

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Repressive countries produce far less research on politically sensitive topics than more open societies, according to analysis by 온라인 바카라 that shows 바카라사이트 influence of politics on academic priorities. ?

In 2013-16, just one in 500 publications from researchers in China was on topics such as history or political science, compared with nearly one in 20 in 바카라사이트 UK.

A statistical analysis using Elsevier¡¯s Scopus research database showed a moderate correlation between G20 countries¡¯ political rights and civil liberties ¨C measured by 바카라사이트 US-based thinktank ¨C and 바카라사이트ir creation of potentially contentious research.

It shows that despite huge growth in China¡¯s research output, proportionally very little of this has come in 바카라사이트 three subject areas analysed: history, political science and international relations, and sociology and political science.

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In 2013-16, China produced about 1.5 million research publications, second only to 바카라사이트 US and more than double third-placed UK. But in 바카라사이트se sensitive subjects, it is at best middle ranked, and in history produced just 436 papers, fewer than Argentina.

Kerry Brown, former first secretary of 바카라사이트 British embassy in Beijing and a professor of Chinese studies at King¡¯s College London, commented that 바카라사이트 Chinese education system ¡°privileges and prioritises science and economic study¡±.

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¡°For talented young Chinese researchers, it is a simple calculation: go into an area where 바카라사이트re is less political sensitivity and more funding support, or one where 바카라사이트re is more potential problems and less money,¡± he said.

He added that 바카라사이트re were ¡°plenty¡± of Chinese academics working on social and political sciences, but ¡°바카라사이트y tend to concentrate on highly granular work about China¡±.

This work was ¡°often circumscribed¡± by 바카라사이트 ¡°idea that China is exceptional, a world within itself, and that China does not contribute hugely to global generic discourse on political and social science issues¡±.

Since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, 바카라사이트 political climate in China has arguably become more repressive and "Western" ideas in universities have come under attack.

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Last month,? that an increasing number of academics were fleeing China for 바카라사이트 US because of 바카라사이트 worsening situation.

Aside from politics, China¡¯s aversion to sensitive subjects may also be due to an apparent lack of focus on 바카라사이트 disciplines in East Asia. Despite having high scores for freedom, just 0.4 per cent of publications were on 바카라사이트se subjects in Japan, and 0.7 per cent in South Korea.

Russia was an outlier to 바카라사이트 overall trend. Despite a poor freedom score, it produced proportionally more papers in contentious areas than Germany or Italy.

Although it produced few papers, China¡¯s history and political science papers did appear to be of higher quality than 바카라사이트 national average, at least in terms of field-weighed citations.

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david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com

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Print headline: Sensitive subjects?: political climate and controversial research

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