Universities and Civilizations

Franck Leprévost is an internationally renowned scientist and Professor at the University of Luxembourg, of which he was Vice-President from 2005 to 2015. His expertise in academic positioning and strategy is sought after by many universities, institutions and governments.

• Foreword viiPreface: Elements of Genesis xiAcknowledgements xvChapter 1. The Origin of a Triptych 11.1. The sun is shining in Berkeley 21.2. Fukuyama versus Huntington: the revenge of civilizations in the 21st Century 31.3. The role of universities in the race for global intellectual leadership 51.4. Why? Where? How? 8Chapter 2. Why? 152.1. The purpose of universities 152.2. International rankings and world academic elite 162.3. What is the role of a leading university? 182.4. What are the reasons for the intellectual arms race? 21Chapter 3. Where? 293.1. The “Big Four” and their methodologies 333.2. Analysis of the Top 20 373.3. Analysis of the Top 200 413.4. Analysis of the Top 1000 48Chapter 4. How? From Russia with 5-100 594.1. The land of the Tsars, of snow and Doctor Zhivago 594.2. The Russian excellence initiative: the 5-100 program 604.3. The results of the 5-100 program in 2019 654.4. Obstacles to Russian academic excellence 724.5. Analysis and options: brain, heart and soul 76Chapter 5. Conclusion: Analysis and Perspectives 895.1. Winners of the race for global academic leadership 905.2. Europe – Paul Valéry’s anticipation 925.3. Universities for what? Automation, demographics and flow 955.4. Work and occupation: the need for a political project 1035.5. Western civilization – the judgment of “elementary particles” 104Appendices 107Appendix 1. Huntington’s Country – Civilization Dictionary 109Appendix 2. Top 20 Rankings 113Appendix 3. Top 200 Rankings 123Appendix 4. Top 1000 Rankings 141Appendix 5. Continental and Western Europe 155Appendix 6. Europe: 5 + 1 163Notes, Insertions and Tangents 171References 201Index 209