Conference "The international circulation of ideas in Europe's social sciences"

« Circulation of ideas » Network - II - Translation and international circulation of ideas

Location : Crète [ July 1-2th, 2005 ]

Direction : N. Panayotopoulos

Abstract : The circulation of ideas is not independent neither from power relations between states and neither from power relations between disciplines. As a matter of fact, it is embedded in relations of domination. The circulation of scientific ideas between spaces that are separated by boarder results from strategies pertaining to the field the agents perform in and their respective position in this field. The less a field is autonomous, the more it depends from variables that are foreign to its own logic – therefore the stronger grows their influence on men and ideas inside the field. This observed rule implies that the circulation of ideas and men depends much more from the state of fields and the position occupied by the agents when the autonomy is strong, and much more from the position in the social space when the degree of independence is low. I.e. a greater subordination to scientific work and to the scientific production is the price to pay for more freedom and an easier circulation of men and ideas which is also less influenced by the states or by economical needs. In the current situation of return to heteronomy, where variables external to the scientific field tend to gain control over the scientific production and its circulation, frontiers inevitably reappear within the scientific and cultural universe, science submits to particularism and so the dominated spaces to the logic of dominant centers. Therefore, it is extremely important that the mechanics of circulation of ideas between the different European spaces and the social logic over the circulation of scientific ideas are discussed by the means of a comparative history, in order to ensure that reason wins over most irrational drives and universalism over sectarian identitarism or, to put it in another way, to widen the autonomy of scientists. Thus, this an efficient manner and likely to succeed in mastering some obstacles, deeply anchored in institutions and ways of thinking and thus to create a generalized space of free scientific exchange in Europe. The colloquium is integrated in the work of an international research program which aims at creating a Research Space for European Social Sciences (ESSE). Financed by the European Community this wide network brings together more than hundred participants who support the overture of a rational dialogue between researchers coming from different disciplines and traditions.