Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational Aspects

In the context of increasingly tense Russian-British relations the UKRussia Year of Science and Education 2017 offered a window of opportunity to re-establish a constructive dialogue on a number of areas of scientific and technological cooperation, as well as to promote track II diplomacy. Joint act...

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Main Author: E. M. Kharitonova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Moscow University Press 2020-11-01
Series:Вестник Московского Университета. Серия XXV: Международные отношения и мировая политика
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Online Access:https://fmp.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/58
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author E. M. Kharitonova
author_facet E. M. Kharitonova
author_sort E. M. Kharitonova
collection DOAJ
description In the context of increasingly tense Russian-British relations the UKRussia Year of Science and Education 2017 offered a window of opportunity to re-establish a constructive dialogue on a number of areas of scientific and technological cooperation, as well as to promote track II diplomacy. Joint activities, held during this year, demonstrated a considerable potential of science diplomacy but revealed substantial differences in the Russian and British views of its objectives and functions. This makes it appropriate to examine the United Kingdom’s experience in science diplomacy and its role in British foreign policy. The first section examines the most common working definition of science diplomacy which differentiates between three categories: ‘science in diplomacy’, ‘science for diplomacy’, and ‘diplomacy for science’. Directly linked to national interests, science diplomacy, can be viewed as a source of ‘soft power’, as an effective conflict prevention and resolution mechanism or as an element of the global governance system. Such multidimensionality of science diplomacy is generally typical of the UK as well. The second section thoroughly examines the development of the discourse on science diplomacy in the British official documents and national science and technology development strategies. The author identifies a fundamental continuity in defining objectives and functions of science diplomacy in the policies of all the Cabinets over the last two decades. Finally, this paper examines organizational and institutional features of science diplomacy in the UK and the activities of the key governmental and non-governmental institutions, societies and organizations engaged in science diplomacy. The conclusion is drawn that British science diplomacy is closely connected with the Kingdom’s key foreign policy objectives and priorities and organically complements more conventional instruments. Moreover, science diplomacy has become all the more important in the light of Brexit..
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spelling doaj-art-b564e42cca074ae3a9c201e447e638862025-02-02T11:10:31ZengMoscow University PressВестник Московского Университета. Серия XXV: Международные отношения и мировая политика2076-74042020-11-01102619157Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational AspectsE. M. Kharitonova0Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of SciencesIn the context of increasingly tense Russian-British relations the UKRussia Year of Science and Education 2017 offered a window of opportunity to re-establish a constructive dialogue on a number of areas of scientific and technological cooperation, as well as to promote track II diplomacy. Joint activities, held during this year, demonstrated a considerable potential of science diplomacy but revealed substantial differences in the Russian and British views of its objectives and functions. This makes it appropriate to examine the United Kingdom’s experience in science diplomacy and its role in British foreign policy. The first section examines the most common working definition of science diplomacy which differentiates between three categories: ‘science in diplomacy’, ‘science for diplomacy’, and ‘diplomacy for science’. Directly linked to national interests, science diplomacy, can be viewed as a source of ‘soft power’, as an effective conflict prevention and resolution mechanism or as an element of the global governance system. Such multidimensionality of science diplomacy is generally typical of the UK as well. The second section thoroughly examines the development of the discourse on science diplomacy in the British official documents and national science and technology development strategies. The author identifies a fundamental continuity in defining objectives and functions of science diplomacy in the policies of all the Cabinets over the last two decades. Finally, this paper examines organizational and institutional features of science diplomacy in the UK and the activities of the key governmental and non-governmental institutions, societies and organizations engaged in science diplomacy. The conclusion is drawn that British science diplomacy is closely connected with the Kingdom’s key foreign policy objectives and priorities and organically complements more conventional instruments. Moreover, science diplomacy has become all the more important in the light of Brexit..https://fmp.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/58science diplomacypublic diplomacysoft powertrack ii diplomacyscientific and technological cooperationscience and innovationgreat britainforeign policyglobal governance
spellingShingle E. M. Kharitonova
Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational Aspects
Вестник Московского Университета. Серия XXV: Международные отношения и мировая политика
science diplomacy
public diplomacy
soft power
track ii diplomacy
scientific and technological cooperation
science and innovation
great britain
foreign policy
global governance
title Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational Aspects
title_full Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational Aspects
title_fullStr Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational Aspects
title_full_unstemmed Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational Aspects
title_short Science Diplomacy in British Foreign Policy: Theoretical, Institutional, and Organizational Aspects
title_sort science diplomacy in british foreign policy theoretical institutional and organizational aspects
topic science diplomacy
public diplomacy
soft power
track ii diplomacy
scientific and technological cooperation
science and innovation
great britain
foreign policy
global governance
url https://fmp.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/58
work_keys_str_mv AT emkharitonova sciencediplomacyinbritishforeignpolicytheoreticalinstitutionalandorganizationalaspects