Evaluation of scientists: landscape before battle

It is possible to write a fascinating book based on the discussion contained in this volume, in the companion online forum, and in the correspondence between the reviewers and the authors. Indeed, the topic “Evaluation of scientists: expert and scientometric approaches” is important and sensitive, and this special issue brings together a number of bright scholars of completely different ideas. This article focuses on only one aspect of the debate, but it is an aspect that determines not only the approach to the evaluation of scientists, but the direction of development of the whole Russian science. It consists in choosing one of two general directions which can be called internationalism and isolationism.