Call for Papers: Embrangled Science Diplomacy: a history of challenges and failures. Actors, dynamics, arenas, diplomatic objects since the 1960s

Context and Rationale

Since the 1990s, the end of the Cold War, the European research for an autonomous strategic role, the rise of globalization, and hopes for effective multilateralism as a means of conflict resolution led  many to believe that science could transcend geopolitical tensions. Science was seen as an independent sphere, capable of guiding solutions to global challenges—particularly climate change. It is in this context that science diplomacy was conceptualized. However, rather than being a novel idea, science Diplomacy represents a rediscovery of long-standing practices. Over the past two decades, science diplomacy has been explicitly framed as both a field of practice and a domain of study, bridging scientific knowledge and diplomatic expertise. Initially, its primary objective was to foster cooperation and openness. Yet, as science and technology increasingly become instruments of power in international politics, competition and closure have emerged as alternative motivations. Science diplomacy now faces a dual role: it is both a tool for addressing global challenges and a means of navigating power dynamics.
The traditional definition of science diplomacy—promoting cooperation, protecting scientific potential, and balancing openness with strategic interests—has dominated the discourse. However, this narrative often overpromises, leaving little room for critical evaluation. Can a historical and interdisciplinary analysis, informed by practical insights, help mitigate this tendency?