Social Science Infrastructure: East Asia and the Pacific (Research and Teaching)

Abstract

This article traces the development of research and teaching infrastructure in social and behavioral sciences in East Asia and the Pacific. The first initiative in social science were made in Japan's before World War II. While bureaucratic authoritarianism and pervasive influence of Marxism impeded the development of research and teaching infrastructure in social and behavioral sciences, democratization under US-occupied Japan accelerated it. Second, infrastructure development in East Asia and the Pacific since 1945 is outlined. While foundations of opinion polling and survey taking were laid during colonial and authoritarian regimes, democratization and globalization have fostered and advanced social sciences in the academic world in East Asia and Pacific. Pan-Asian cooperation in social sciences is on the rise and research infrastructure is being developed that will facilitate cooperation and improving research infrastructures in the future.