Hanoch Gutfreund

A Special Relationship: Turning Points in the History of German-Israeli Scientific Cooperation

In the relationship between West Germany and Israel the bilateral scientific cooperation is regarded as an ‘icebreaker’ for the troublesome development of a regular diplomatic and cultural exchange. The preprint “A Special Relationship: Turning Points in the History of German-Israeli Scientific Cooperation” sketches the evolution of bilateral scientific relations from the 1950s to the 1980s with the Max Planck Society and the Weizmann Institute of Science as leading institutions and complements earlier historical interpretations with new, broadened horizons. As a result of contingent obstacles and opportunities the path dependent formation of these bilateral relations in close mutual connection between scientific and political agendas highlights reasons for long-term changes in German and Israeli science and society. Moreover, it reveals new contexts for the development of a more conscious attitude of the MPG towards science policy. Thomas Steinhauser, Hanoch Gutfreund und Jürgen Renn: “A Special Relationship: Turning Points in the History of German-Israeli Scientific Cooperation.” Ergebnisse des Forschungsprogramms Geschichte der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Preprint 1. Herausgegeben von Florian Schmaltz, Jürgen Renn, Carsten Reinhardt und Jürgen Kocka. Berlin 2017.