Centres of decision in french science policy: The contrasting influences of scientific experts and administrators

Immediately after the war (between 1945 and 1954) the most dynamic element of the French scientific community was constantly demanding that centres of decision be established, capable of initiating and coordinating research policy. During the period after 1958 when the main decision-making structures of French science police were introduced, large numbers of ‘experts’ from the scientific community played an important part in the agencies coordinating science policy, or occasionally even in the centres of decision (Ministries, Délégation Générale à la Recherche Scientifique et Technique etc.). The role and influence of the committees of experts gradually diminished, however, after 1967, and scientists left more and more of their influence in the hands of the Administration. The reasons behind this phenomenon and its consequences are analysed here. It should be particularly emphasized that this development has led to neglect of the long-term view which is indispensable to any science policy. A final conclusion is that scientists have only occasionally set a real political debate in motion on the long-term objectives of a science policy.