This article examines the prospects for inter‐country collaborative research between academic institutions of greatly varying experience and resources, and notes the case for unilateral action by research institutes in poor countries which have suffered the domination of rich and powerful foreign research interests. Some criteria are suggested for assessing the readiness of research institutions in any part of the world to cooperate effectively. The question is left open as to whether we possess or are likely to acquire the capacity to collaborate successfully across barriers of history and contemporary events.