The Politics of Innovation: Why Some Countries Are Better Than Others at Science and Technology

Abstract

Why are some countries better than others at science and technology (S&T)? Written in an approachable style, The Politics of Innovation provides readers from all backgrounds and levels of expertise with a comprehensive introduction to the debates over national S&T competitiveness. It synthesizes over fifty years of theory and research on national innovation rates, bringing together the current political and economic wisdom and latest findings about how nations become S&T leaders. Many experts mistakenly believe that domestic institutions and policies determine national innovation rates. However, after decades of research, there is still no agreement on precisely how this happens and exactly which institutions matter, and little aggregate evidence has been produced to support any particular explanation. Yet, despite these problems, a core faith in the relationship between domestic institutions and national innovation rates remains widely held and little challenged. This book confronts head-on this contradiction between theory, evidence, and the popularity of the institutions-innovation hypothesis. It presents extensive evidence to show that domestic institutions and policies do not determine innovation rates. Instead, it argues that networks are perhaps more important than institutions in determining national innovation rates. The Politics of Innovation also introduces a new theory of “creative insecurity,” which explains how institutions, policies, and networks are all subservient to politics. Ultimately, each country’s balance of domestic rivalries versus external threats, and the ensuing political fights, is what drives S&T competitiveness. All told, The Politics of Innovation draws upon statistical analysis and comparative case studies of dozens of countries.