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A century of science boycotts

Researchers have severed global ties before — what happened?
  1. Michael D. Gordin

    1. Michael D. Gordin is professor of the history of science at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

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Black and white image of Albert Einstein speaking at a podium at the Royal Albert Hall, with a crowd of people behind him

Albert Einstein was exempted from a 1919–26 boycott of German scientists because of his pacifist views. Credit: Scherl/Süddeutsche Zeitung Photo/Alamy

The orders came from Moscow, and took the world by surprise. Governments elsewhere had not expected a militarized invasion on this scale, reasoning that it would be logistically almost impossible to occupy the territory, and that the local resistance would be prolonged and potentially ruinous to the invading forces. Nonetheless, many nations quickly responded with sanctions and trade embargoes. The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned the aggressor and demanded immediate withdrawal of all troops.

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Nature 606, 27-29 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01475-8

References

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Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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