Spoken But Not Heard? Indian and Chinese Stem Cell Governance and Challenges of Decolonising Science

• In Event: Decolonizing Science: Where Have We Gotten To? - I

Abstract

The popular rhetoric of a ‘power shift’ in global science often seems to come with a cautious tone. While regular appearances of Chinese and Indian research on the world stage suggests the centre of scientific power has gravitated towards the East, it also gives rise to concerns over whether Asian scientists (an increasing number of whom are Western-trained) can conduct cutting-edge experiments ‘properly’. This may be especially true for the life sciences. It is widely known that scientists and clinicians in India and in China often complain that their journal submissions are treated with double-standards. This deep ambivalence towards Asian life sciences resonates with Spivak’s classic analysis of the subaltern condition: The Asian bioscientific community has spoken to the world with its ambition and findings, but the real question is, to what extent can they be ‘heard’?

Drawing on empirical studies on the evolution of stem cell therapy governance in India and China, this paper ponders the broader lessons learnt from these two emerging scientific powers.
It compares how scientific and ethical risks are instrumentalised differently by scientists and regulators to mitigate development and political inequality in the international arena and how this gives rise to new norms in global science. This paper goes beyond a simple West/East dichotomy, to unpack what constitutes the hegemonic discourse of science and how it both leads and blinds research practices.

Author

• Joy Zhang, University of Kent