Tizhi Wenti I: The Social Organization of Stem Cell Research

Abstract

As sociologist Craig Calhoun rightly pointed out, ‘cosmopolitanism and nationalism are mutually constitutive’ (Calhoun, 2007, p. 13). Despite the fact that cosmopolitanization has highlighted the significance of the contribution from a range of non-state actors, including the empowerment of concerned individuals, cosmopolitanization is not restricted to social movements ‘from below’ (Beck, 2006, p. 81), as demonstrated in Chapter 4. It also requires corresponding efforts ‘from above’ (Beck, 2006, pp. 21–4; Beck, 2009, pp. 100–4), such as multinational corporations, global institutions and the nation-state. Especially for China, a developing country in which the government is the main source of R&D investment (see Chapter 2), national scientific infrastructure and domestic research culture are key factors in influencing research output.