ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses a decision by the Council of the Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences. The Academy is an organisation with a dual structure which seeks to foster the social sciences in Britain. The chapter aims to define the nature, focus, status, health and contribution to society of the social sciences in Britain. It identifies shortcomings in regard to the social sciences' health and contribution to society. The chapter also aims set out a programme of action, capable of implementation by each of the various players according to their role and resources, which improve the situation. Global scientific collaborations are commonplace. The United States is only a set of islands in a limited physical sense. At the global level, we are subject to the tides of international competition in goods, services and ideas. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
