There has been a general increase in funding cuts to universities and research across the world. However, certain fields have faced bigger reductions than others: some of the largest cuts have been experienced by the social sciences and the arts and humanities. Given that research in STEM is often cited as generating the most economic value, it has not always been the biggest victim of funding cuts. Meanwhile, the other disciplines are repeatedly labelled unproductive, unprofitable, and a luxury in times of crisis. And yet, when we look around, it is not hard to see that scientific progress has never moved faster, while social progress has rarely felt slower. Our societies are increasingly exposed to new technologies and techniques for mastering the material world, yet our political, cultural, and economic systems feel as though they lag decades behind. We know how to edit genes, build intelligent machines, and send celebrities into space on day trips, but we still struggle to govern...