The Politics of Innovation

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 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 exactly which institutions matter and little aggregate evidence has been produced to support any particular explanation. Yet despite these problems a core faith in a relationship between domestic institutions and national innovation rates remains widely held and little challenged. The Politics of Innovation 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 social networks are as important as 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. It argues that ultimately each country''s balance of domestic rivalries vs. external threats and the ensuing political fights are what drive S&T competitiveness. In making its case The Politics of Innovation draws upon statistical analysis and comparative case studies of the United States Japan South Korea China Taiwan Thailand the Philippines Argentina Brazil Mexico Canada Turkey Israel Russia and a dozen countries across Western Europe.