The scientists of the IVIC in the evolution of science and technology policy during the Chávez administration in Venezuela. Issue 1 (1st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Laya, Damny; Vessuri, Hebe
• Is Part Of: Tapuya. Volume 2:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 176
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2019-01-01
• Subjects: Scientific and technological policy (STP) of Hugo Chávez -- Venezuelan scientific community -- IVIC -- science and power -- science and policy; Política científica e tecnológica do Hugo Chávez -- Comunidade Científica venezuelana -- IVIC -- Ciência e Poder -- Ciência e Política; Política científica y tecnológica de Hugo Chávez -- Comunidad Científica venezolana -- IVIC -- Ciencia y Poder -- Ciencia y Política; Science -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Science and state -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Technology -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Technology and state -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Latin America -- Periodicals; 338.98
• DOI: 10.1080/25729861.2019.1616953
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2572-9861

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Hugo Chávez's assumption of the presidency in late 1999 brought about major institutional change in Venezuela, and in its science and technology. Some authors speak of a breakage of the scientific community's "social contract" with the state through the inroads of a new political bias or politicization, and of a replacement of decision-making among the scientific community traditionally responsible for the direction of science and technology policy (STP) – in which the scientific community of the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC) had been a historically influential, not to say dominant, actor – by other actors of Venezuelan society. This study aims to elucidate the changes occurring in the Chávez administration's STP and, especially, in the role played by one of its actors – the scientific community of the IVIC – while identifying the political actions of the key actors responsible for that policy and highlighting the power they wielded, gained, or lost over its development.