Taking the pulse of science diplomacy and developing practices of valuation

Abstract

Science diplomacy has caught remarkable attention in public policy and academic research over the last fifteen years. However, the concept is plagued by a huge talk–action discrepancy: its public discourse has reached a problematic state of dazzling self-adulation, while it is unclear if and how the actual policies and associated organizations live up to these expectations. The article reconstructs three structural causes to explain the recent hype about science diplomacy. It further encourages actors to organize evaluations that ask whether and how actions of science diplomacy can be valuable. In this regard, a first set of fundamental principles is proposed for setting up an evaluative framework. In conclusion, the article advises science diplomacy actors from democratic states and institutions, from both academic research and public policy, to stop dreaming about soft power influence on authoritarian states and regimes but rather face new geopolitical realities.

Between global collaboration and national competition: Unraveling the many faces of Arctic science diplomacy

“…Nevertheless, it can be assumed that SD-like policies in many venuesjust like the types of SD found in the present analysiswill continue to overlap, exist in parallel or possibly contradict each other on occasions. In fact, identifying configurations of factors that favour one type of SD over others in a given situation would be a particularly worthwhile endeavour (Flink, 2021). In such cases, our framework may help to keep a clear-cut analytical view of the prismatic SD developments in the Arctic and beyond.…”

A Call to Draw on Existing Social Science Scholarship to Understand Professional Communities at the Science-Diplomacy Nexus Better: Using the Case of Space Governance

“…Hayes et al 2007;Lord and Turekian 2007) and scholarly skepticism of this rhetoric (e.g. Flink 2020Flink , 2021Rungius and Flink 2020). Thinking about how professional practices at the science-diplomacy nexus are competing and changing has three potential benefits: 1) teaching future scientists and science diplomats what skills are necessary to engage with other expert professionals in global governance, 2) understanding where scientific input is missing from global governance arrangements, and 3) acknowledging the power relationships that sustain current modes of diplomatic practice.…”

Analysis of Inter-institucional Cooperation Practices for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health

“…Nevertheless, whether and how the policies developed and the integration between organizations meet the expectations to achieve practical cooperation in global health is unclear. To accomplish that, it is necessary not only political will but also a better understanding of the institutions, interests, and environments of ideas, which can ease or hinder global health diplomacy efforts [4].…”