Book

Research Universities and the Making of Power

Dr. Bakri Maatouq Assas

Publication date: July 19, 2026 22:54 KSA

The power of nations is often measured by their natural resources or military capabilities, but modern experience has proven that the deepest source of power lies in knowledge. Hence, research universities have emerged as institutions that produce ideas and innovations, driving the economy and influencing politics and society. The United States is the clearest example of this, as its rise to the status of the world's primary power was linked to the growth of a university system that placed scientific research at the core of its mission.

American university education began with the founding of Harvard University in 1636, followed by prestigious universities such as Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and Pennsylvania. However, the real transformation was not merely in establishing universities, but in changing their concept from institutions concerned with teaching and transferring knowledge to institutions that produce knowledge itself. This transformation was clearly embodied with the founding of Johns Hopkins University in 1876, which became a model for the modern research university. This model was based on linking education and scientific research, so that the professor's role is not limited to teaching but extends to discovery and innovation. Through laboratories, research centers, and advanced studies, the university became a direct partner in economic and industrial development. Therefore, many researchers believe that research universities contributed to building American superiority more than any other factor.

The United States benefited from the German experience, which was a pioneer in scientific research during the nineteenth century. It sent academics to German universities and drew inspiration from its methods in preparing researchers and organizing postgraduate studies. Over time, it developed its own model until its universities became at the forefront of scientific institutions globally. The success of these universities was not only the result of academic efforts but also came from an effective partnership between businessmen and educational institutions. Large donations and endowments provided sustainable support for scientific research and contributed to attracting the best minds from around the world. Universities became a fertile environment for producing patents and establishing technology companies and advanced industries. Many studies indicate that a large proportion of innovations and new industries in the United States emerged from universities and their laboratories. The close relationship between scientific research and the economy made knowledge a strategic resource no less important than natural resources, often surpassing them. Today, many countries are competing to build strong research universities, realizing that scientific superiority is the path to economic and technological influence. China's experience in intensive investment in scientific research and higher education reflects this growing awareness of the importance of knowledge in shaping the global balance of power. The most prominent lesson from this experience is that nations do not advance by resources alone, but by investing in people and science. A university that produces knowledge and supports innovation is capable of shaping the future of its nation. Therefore, the truth confirmed by modern history remains clear: whoever possesses knowledge possesses the tools of influence and leadership in the world.

UniversitiesHarvard University