Global Science and National Sovereignty: Studies in Historical Sociology of Science

Global Science and National Sovereignty: Studies in Historical Sociology of Science provides detailed case studies on how sovereignty has been constructed, reaffirmed, and transformed in the twentieth century by the construction of scientific disciplines, knowledge practices, and research objects. Interrogating the relationship of the sovereign power of the nation state to the scientist's expert knowledge as a legitimating – and sometimes challenging – force in contemporary society, this book provides a staggering range of case studies in its exploration of how different types of science have transformed our understanding of national sovereignty in the last century. From biochemical sciences in Russia, to nuclear science in the US and Europe, from economics in South Asia, to climatology in South America, each chapter demonstrates the role that scientists play in the creation of nation-states and international organizations. With an array of experts and scholars, the essays in Global Science and National Sovereignty: Studies in Historical Sociology of Science offer a complete redefinition of the modern concept of sovereignty and an illuminating reassessment of the role of science in political life.

Gregoire Mallard will join the faculty of Northwestern University in September 2008, as Assistant Professor of Sociology. He is presently a Woodrow Wilson Society Fellow (2006-2008) and a Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University and Universite Paris-Est. In June 2008, he will complete his dissertation, titled Sovereignty by Design : US Nuclear Foreign Policy, Transnational Networks and the Creation of Supranational Communities. His recent publications include: in 2004, "Interpreters of the Literary Canon and Their Technical Instruments: The Case of Balzac Criticism." American Sociological Review. 70:992-1010. His work on peer evaluation published with Michele Lamont, include: Joshua Guetzkow, Michele Lamont and Gregoire Mallard. 2004. "What is Originality in the Social Sciences and the Humanities?" American Sociological Review. 69:190-212; and Gregoire Mallard, Michele Lamont, and Joshua Guetzkow. 2008. "Fairness as Appropriateness: Managing Epistemological Differences in Peer Review." Science, Technology and Human Values.

Catherine Paradeise is Professor of Sociology at the University of Marne-la-Vallee and the LATTS (Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires et Societes – CNRS/UMLV/Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees), where she extensively contributed to the creation of IFRIS (Research, Innovation and Society Research Institute). She is a graduate of IEP Paris (1966), EPRASS-EHESS (1968), and the University of Michigan (1970), has earned her "Doctorat du 3eme cycle" at Rene Descartes University (1974) and is "Docteur d'Etat" of the University of Paris IV (1984). She served as Assistant Director (DSA) of the CNRS Humanities and Social Sciences Department (SHS) from 1991 to 1994, and Assistant Director of the Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan (2000-2003). She is also Associate Member of the CPSO (Center for Public Service Organizations, School of Management, Royal Holloway) of the London University.

Ashveen Peerbaye earned his Ph.D. in Sociology at the Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan and is Associate Professor at the Universite de Paris-Est (Marne-la-Vallee). Ashveen Peerbaye’s recent publications include: with V. Mangematin. 2004. "Les grands equipements en sciences de la vie: quelle politique publique?" Revue Francaise d’Administration Publique. 112:705-718 ; with V. Mangematin. 2005. "Sharing Research Facilities: Towards a New Mode of Technology Transfer?" Innovation: Management, Policy and Practice. 7(1):23-38 ; with F. Aggeri, A. Branciard, P. Le Masson, C. Paradeise, "Les plateformes technologiques, un instrument de politique scientifique dans les sciences de la vie", Revue d’Economie industrielle, forthcoming.