Research seminar on 14 March: “Research and Staffing Policy in Social and Humanitarian Disciplines, 2008–2012”

The Political Sphere research seminar operates as a space for professional communication and exchange of ideas in the study of politics, as well as for improving the methodology and strategy of political-process analysis. The seminar presents current results of political, social and economic research. Work plan of the Political Sphere research seminar for the first half of 2013

Structural causes of the problems and “weaknesses” of social and humanitarian knowledge

One quite often hears about a crisis, stagnation or even decline in the development of the social sciences and humanities in Belarus. This is explained by various reasons: from the absence of traditions and the political situation to the lack of creativity, “Sovietness”, limited funding and so on among scholars themselves.

In such discussions, however, it is worth taking into account a more pragmatic and down-to-earth context: the policy of distributing resources and funding among disciplines and research topics. As the results of a special study by the Political Sphere Institute show, analysis of this “distribution policy” explains to a significant extent the condition of the humanities and social sciences. It is possible that correcting the ineffective distribution of resources could solve many of the problems usually associated with an “intellectual crisis”, “the absence of academic stars”, “the Soviet legacy” and so on.

During the seminar, these issues will be discussed on the basis of an analysis of the structure of funding for the scientific sphere in Belarus (in comparison with other countries); the structure of employment; research topics funded by the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research; the policy of dissertation research; and related developments in the 2000s.

All interested participants are welcome!

The seminar begins at 18:00.

To participate in the seminar, please send an application to info @ palityka.org