The Importance of Scientific Diplomacy as a Strategy for Global Development

In a world in constant evolution and advance and where new global challenges greatly affect all countries, science is today and will be in the future one of the most important pillars to obtain both social and economic progress and promote globalization (De España, G. (2016). This is why the strategic value of scientific diplomacy will seal the future of the continent (Cerdas López, M. (2013). The importance of scientific diplomacy became evident  in the 20th Century, when it was used as an interconnection channel between different nations in the Western and Eastern blocs after the Cuban missile crisis – when issues between the United States and the USSR arouse. It was just then when both scientists and diplomats made the decision to intervene to appease problems and resolve differences.

The first official act of scientific diplomacy as such occurred in 1961, when an agreement was reached between the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and the Japanese Prime Minister, Hayato Ikeda. Said agreement was aimed at establishing a colloquium between the two corresponding countries (Senado de la República, México, 2018). This practice was common between different powers and, nowadays, has become even more important (Del Arenal, 1981). Scientific diplomacy is fundamental as it helps to overcome barriers and challenges that are a priority within a globalized world, such as climate change, pandemics, and nuclear proliferation (Ves suri, H. (2013).

Scientific diplomacy is a way to contribute through regulated strategies to give an outlet to those problems that concern humanity (ECHEVERRIA, L. F. (2020). It also refers to those causes that are common to different states and help them incorporate each other within international support strategies and benefits  when it comes to spaces of discernment, management, gain and communication, which are obtained thanks to the use of the scientific diplomacy (Turekian et al., 2015). According to The Royal Society (2010), there are three dimensions for scientific diplomacy: Science in diplomacy, diplomacy for science and Science for diplomacy.

It should also be noted that science allows improving and solving issue as food security, water purification, health and hygiene of the population. Cooperation in fields of scientific diplomacy serves as a communication channel when other diplomatic relations are blocked. Scientific diplomacy is essential to find solutions to problems that are of common interest and helps to internationalize different national systems. That is why it is transcendental for the most developed countries to adopt this strategy in order to achieve a great internationalization of innovation (Cruz, 2014). The triumph of Scientific diplomacy will mostly be due to the correct visualization of the different strengths at the national level when integrating them into decision-making. Governments must recognize this practice for the prosperity of their countries

This strategy has been handled especially well in Latin America and Spain (Real, 1970).  It is a subject of such importance, at the moment a process called “ambassadors for science” – a founding program that consists of reciprocity between diplomats and scientists – is being carried out. In the program professional  are introduced in different contexts of science and diplomacy and research on ways to encourage adjacent thinking that can be beneficial to the evolution of a better scientific diplomacy (Gobierno de España, 2018)