As world multipolarity, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversification deepen, interdependence among countries—especially major powers—is intensifying, while mutual conflicts are also escalating, further highlighting the critical role of science diplomacy. On one hand, science increasingly underpins and supports diplomacy: transnational and cross-cultural scientific cooperation helps enhance diplomatic capacity, expand diplomatic space, and fulfill the function of 'Track II diplomacy.' On the other hand, diplomacy profoundly influences a country’s scientific development, with international collaboration becoming the primary organizational mode for scientific activities and a key driver of scientific advancement.
Science diplomacy has become an important arena for great-power competition. Since World War II, science diplomacy—as 'Track II diplomacy' beyond traditional diplomacy and a vital manifestation of national soft power—has played a crucial role in the postwar international system’s reconstruction, led by traditional science powers such as the United States and Europe. Although President Donald Trump’s 'America First' strategy—marked by substantial cuts to federal science and diplomatic budgets—has impacted U.S. science diplomacy, the overarching trend of globalization remains irreversible. Close scientific ties and cooperative relationships among EU member states have significantly contributed to reasserting Europe’s scientific excellence and advancing European integration. As a defeated nation after WWII, Japan—constrained in traditional diplomacy—has emerged as a major force on the international science diplomacy stage, leveraging its robust scientific and economic capabilities. In recent years, emerging economies including China, South Korea, India, and Brazil have seen steadily growing scientific and economic strength, playing increasingly prominent roles in global science-related issues, international science organizations, international science assistance, and bilateral and multilateral scientific cooperation—accelerating the adjustment—and even restructuring—of the global science governance system amid globalization.
Diplomacy serves to enhance domestic scientific innovation capacity. The depth, breadth, and effectiveness of international cooperation increasingly shape a nation’s scientific development. Governments worldwide tailor policies to their developmental needs—signing science cooperation agreements, increasing funding for international scientific collaboration, enhancing openness of national science programs to foreign participation, supporting involvement in international science initiatives, and facilitating visa procedures for scientists—to remove barriers hindering their scientific communities’ engagement in international cooperation. Major scientific infrastructure projects, due to their enormous investment requirements, constitute a key domain of international scientific collaboration. The establishment and successful operation of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) exemplify European science diplomacy. CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC)—currently the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator—involved over 10,000 researchers and engineers from more than 100 countries in its design and construction. Through international collaboration, multiple world-class scientific projects were completed, culminating in the 2012 detection of the Higgs boson.
International organizations serve as vital platforms for science diplomacy. As science plays an increasingly pivotal role in addressing global challenges, international organizations tasked with discussing and resolving such issues have become essential venues through which countries engage in global governance and rule-making via science diplomacy. Most major international organizations or coordination mechanisms operating under the United Nations umbrella have established specialized science-related committees to address science’s critical role in high-stakes international decision-making. For instance, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) hosts two standing subsidiary committees, one of which is the 'Scientific and Technical Subcommittee.' Similarly, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)—responsible for allocating and managing global radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbital resources, and for setting global telecommunications standards—relies heavily on scientific input for standard drafting, resource allocation, and technical assessments, making it today’s most fiercely contested arena for national competition in the telecommunications field.
Last updated: 2026-03-08