This book presents an analysis of the institutional development of selected social science and humanities (SSH) disciplines in Argentina, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Where most narratives of a scholarly past are presented as a succession of ‘ideas,’ research results and theories, this collection highlights the structural shifts in the systems of higher education, as well as institutions of research and innovation (beyond the universities) within which these disciplines have developed. This institutional perspective will facilitate systematic comparisons between developments in various disciplines and countries. Across eight country studies the book reveals remarkably different dynamics of disciplinary growth between countries, as well as important interdisciplinary differences within countries. In addition, instances of institutional contractions and downturns and veritable breaks of continuity under authoritarian political regimes can be observed, which are almost totally absent from narratives of individual disciplinary histories. This important work will provide a valuable resource to scholars of disciplinary history, the history of ideas, the sociology of education and of scientific knowledge.

“This book is a pioneering one: based on an original comparative research on the development of the social sciences in Europe and beyond, it shows the fruitfulness of an institutional approach shared without any dogmatism by all the contributors. Rich in fresh data and bold hypotheses, this work will be useful to all those who are interested in the social science of social sciences, an emerging and promising field.” (Jean-Louis Fabiani, Central European University, Hungary)

“Comparativity in social sciences is akin to physical exercises: most scholars lament the lack of it – and do nothing about that. The authors of this book made a perfect job of producing a truly comparative history of social sciences, including both a wide range of national cases, from Argentina to Hungary, and an extensive spectrum of disciplines. This book discovers for social scientists how rich and diverse are the legacies of their intellectual enterprise.” (Mikhail Sokolov, European University at St. Petersburg, Russia)

Provides an institutional analysis of the development of social science and humanities disciplines Explores patterns of institutionalization and differing dynamics of disciplinary growth between countries Analyzes the development of a sample of social science and humanities disciplines in Argentina, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom

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