The Problematic of Scientific Knowledge Production in the Social Sciences within Arab Universities

Abstract

The production of scientific knowledge constitutes one of the most vital functions of the university, serving as the effective primary engine for progress across all fields. Consequently, it has become a metric by which the advancement or stagnation of nations is measured. Within the context of cognitive structures, we find that the problematic of scientific knowledge production in the social sciences stands as one of the most acute and intractable crises facing academic institutions. Undoubtedly, many Arab nations have sought to revitalize the scientific research sector in alignment with the requirements of the knowledge age. To this end, they have adopted various orientations and mechanisms, establishing numerous research laboratories aimed at intensifying and upgrading research output to reach global standards. However, based on the theoretical frameworks through which we examined the reality of scientific knowledge production in social science fields within Arab universities, we concluded that such production is remarkably meager—almost non-existent—when compared to developed nations. Furthermore, this output often lacks qualitative depth, dominated instead by a vast quantity of research that offers little utility and adds nothing of substance to the existing body of knowledge.