National Political Cultures and the Exchange of Knowledge: The Case of Systems Ecology

Abstract

Discusses national cultural differences on the development of the science of ecology. Includes some comments on the effect of philosophical streams within Germany (holistics), the UK (mathematical), the USSR (state planning/systems), and the US (financial resources to pay for this new blend) on the development of a systems mathematical approach to ecology. "What we call an international science is really a kind of global ecosystem with intricate patterns of knowledge exchange" ( 204). Cite this article in a discussion of national differences in the approach to science and technology, though in this case the differences are for a science only and a 'soft' science at that.