Forum Internationale Wissenschaft (FIW)

Normative differences of open science practices in university-industry research collaboration in Finland and China

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Normative differences of open science practices in university-industry research collaboration in Finland and China Lattu, Annina Open science (OS) policies have become increasingly prominent, not only in the EU with initiatives like Plan S, but also in the US following the introduction of a new OS policy in 2022. In the People's Republic of China (PRC), OS is highlighted in science policy, particularly in the revised Science and Technology Progress Law of the People's Republic of China (2021). As industrial research and development gains value due to the increasing competition and knowledge intensity of the global economy, and with many governments cutting public research funding during the 2010s austerity trend, university-industry research collaboration (UIRC) has become increasingly common. This paper examines whether and how the OS movement has transformed norms in the UIRC context. By comparing multiple case studies, two from Finland and two from the PRC, this paper explores the normative differences between liberal meritocratic capitalist systems and political capitalist systems in terms of their OS practices, such as open access publishing, open data sharing, and science communication. The paper addresses two research questions: 1) What are the similarities and differences in the norms guiding the application of OS practices in UIRC in Finland and the PRC? 2) What do these differences reveal about the science systems of Finland and the PRC? This study applies institutional logics theory (Thornton et al., 2012) to illustrate the normative environment and its dynamics. The findings reveal that both countries share similar institutional logics that foster or hinder OS, including state, market, corporation, profession, and community logics, but with varying weight and manifestations. Finland's institutionalized OS policies and diverse community logics support OS adoption, while the PRC's OS norms in the UIRC context reflect stronger academic capitalism and global competitiveness, often applying OS selectively in areas that align with broader state-driven objectives. This paper contributes to the under-researched topic of OS in UIRC by comparing two distinct contexts: Finland, a small, forerunner country in open science, and the PRC, a rising global science superpower. It highlights how political and economic systems shape OS adoption, offering insights into the dynamics of OS practices in contrasting governance models.

Higher education in India

Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Higher education in India Sharma, Karan; Kaldewey, David India’s higher-education system has expanded dramatically since Independence, yet enrol-ment gains remain modest and uneven. Drawing on the All India Survey of Higher Education 2021–22 and Union-State budget data, this paper interrogates the policy emphasis on Insti-tutes of National Importance (INIs) and its repercussions for equity and national innovation. It finds that IITs, NITs and IIMs collectively absorb 18.2% of the higher-education budget while enrolling less than 0.76% of students; per-capita public expenditure on an INI student exceeds the national average by a factor of eighteen. Conversely, state universities, which host two-thirds of learners, operate under acute fiscal constraints that depress infrastructure qual-ity, faculty strength and research output. The analysis shows that India’s total R&D spend—0.64% of GDP—lags global comparators and is channelled largely to defence and space agen-cies, leaving universities with under 9% of funds. Historical and institutional review reveals how colonial precedents, post-independence technocracy and coalition-era provincial lobbying entrenched an elite-centric model. The paper argues that without a deliberate redistribution of central grants and ring-fenced centre-to-state transfers for public universities, India cannot achieve a higher Gross Enrolment Ratio, inclusive growth or a broad-based research ecosys-tem.

Asymmetrische Abhängigkeit, exkludierende Inklusion, skalenfreie Netzwerke

Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Asymmetrische Abhängigkeit, exkludierende Inklusion, skalenfreie Netzwerke Haas, Barbara Nigerianische Sexhandelsnetzwerke sind durch komplexe Strukturen geprägt, die tief in der Weltgesellschaft verwurzelt sind und schwer zu durchdringen bleiben. Ungeachtet der zunehmenden Aufmerksamkeit für Phänomene wie moderne Sklaverei, sexuelle Ausbeutung und Menschenhandel zeigen die Zahlen der zu verzeichnenden Betroffenen, wie hartnäckig sich solche Strukturen halten. Dies wirft nicht nur praktische, sondern auch wissenschaftlich und theoretisch wichtige Implikationen für die soziologische Forschung auf. Theoretische Ansätze zu asymmetrischer Abhängigkeit, exkludierender Inklusion und skalenfreien Netzwerken bieten einen differenzierten Blickwinkel, um die Strukturen und Dynamiken dieser Netzwerke tiefergehend zu analysieren. Die Analyse „skalenfreier Netzwerke“ ermöglicht ein tieferes Verständnis davon, wie Machtverhältnisse und Abhängigkeitsstrukturen innerhalb dieser Systeme stabilisiert und reproduziert werden. Dabei zeigt sich, dass das System durch Flexibilität und Anpassungsfähigkeit eine bemerkenswerte Widerstandsfähigkeit aufweist. Unter Anwendung der Theorien von Rudolf Stichweh wird untersucht, wie Inklusions- und Exklusionsmechanismen sowie (starke) asymmetrische Abhängigkeit die Stabilität dieser Netzwerke gewährleisten. Eine besondere Bedeutung kommen dabei den Ausgleichsoperationen zu, welche eigentlich der Verringerung von asymmetrischer Abhängigkeit dienen. Paradoxerweise tragen diese jedoch häufig zur Selbstproduktion des Systems und einer Verstärkung der Machtverhältnisse bei, anstatt sie zu destabilisieren. Dieser Modus Operandi unterstreicht den totalen Charakter dieser Institution der (starken) asymmetrischen Abhängigkeit in Form einer exkludierenden Inklusion. Die Analyse verdeutlicht, wie relevant eine gezielte Auseinandersetzung mit den Mechanismen der Reproduktion dieser Netzwerke ist. Zudem macht sie deutlich, dass eine holistische Herangehensweise notwendig ist, die sowohl offensichtliche als auch subtilere Machtstrukturen in Betracht zieht, um nachhaltige Strategien zur Bekämpfung von Menschenhandel und sexueller Ausbeutung zu entwickeln.

Slavery and strong asymmetrical dependencies

Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Slavery and strong asymmetrical dependencies Stichweh, Rudolf The paper looks for a general analytical perspective that allows to understand and compare slavery and its related institutions (serfdom, debt slavery, forced labour) in premodern and modern societies. The paper starts with a theory of asymmetrical control that identifies six cumulative dimensions of social control and thereby allows to understand the totalizing character of social relations based on a multiplicity of unilateral controls. In opposition to control arise balancing operations. Any specific institution of asymmetrical dependency can then be described by an equilibrium of control and balancing operations.
In the next step, the paper explores the historical space that creates social role categories such as stranger, guest, slave, member, kin – and looks at all of them as special cases and combinations of inclusion and exclusion. This points to the relevance of the theory of inclusion and exclusion, which makes visible that all strong asymmetrical dependencies are based on combinations of constitutive exclusions (from fundamental societal forms of belongingness) with imposed inclusions that are characterized by their control intensity and totality. These are paradoxical structures and they mirror the other paradox that the ultradependents of premodern societies are as much dishonoured as they are valued because of their extensive contributions to societal functioning. Their totalizing inclusion takes place in households and organizational contexts and therefore they do not build a stratum of their own in society.
Finally, the paper looks at global modernity and its non-hierarchical character. It tries to find out why strong asymmetrical dependencies persist in an egalitarian society. The reason seems to be that asymmetrical dependencies change from being normal institutions in hierarchical societies to being oppositional and deviant institutions in horizontal societies that because of their looseness and complexity are not able to suppress the multiple possibilities of opposition, deviance and alienation.