Den skjulte styringen

Lately, we have seen several overt attempts from politicians and corporate interests to steer research in the directions they prefer. However, such attempts are always met with outrage and resistance, and they lead to extensive public debate. We contend that more subtle and hidden control over research is exercised on a day-today basis, yet it is rarely discussed. Research programs and new research centers are often designed based on premises that are no less political than clumsy attempts at controlling scientists. Programs are designed to stimulate economic growth, energy production, commodification, job creation, a more effective government, etc. These premises are rarely articulated and almost never discussed. Many Norwegian and EU research programs will automatically exclude research that questions them. This means that only research that is “useful” for particular interests is funded. The claim that this form of “usefulness” is universally good is in fact strongly political. This hidden political control impairs our possibilities to conduct research to facilitate alternative societal development trajectories and serve civic society. It should be discussed much more openly and critically than is the case today.