From the Cold War to the Global Society. Chilean-German scientific relations 1949-2015: international context and dynamics of exchange

This article analyzes the dynamics of Chilean-German scientific relations from the end of World War II until today, placing them in the framework of the discussion on the circulation of knowledge as well as in international scientific relations. The text attempts to fill gaps in current literature by conducting a long-term perspective analysis, integrated with all actors and located within a broad international policy framework. This means not only considering traditional actors (Chile and the Federal Republic of Germany), but also less debated ones (such as the German Democratic Republic and the Chilean exile). To develop the analysis, an archive review of the memoirs of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs was conducted. The press from both countries and documents from the German Federal Archive were also consulted. Chilean-German scientific relations since the end of World War II are understood to be organized in three stages, the dynamics of which have been conditioned by internal political circumstances, the international context, and the development of their own higher education and science systems. In this evolution, scientific relations have shifted from quite traditional academic dependence to another paradigm, focused on specific "core" scientific areas.