Science Progress And Soft Power: How China Can Use Bilateral Science Diplomacy

Science Diplomacy (keji waijiao) is a term used to describe the increasing global importance of Science & Technology (S&T) and the emphasis that it should be given within international diplomacy. But for all the talk about the term surprisingly little substantial material has been written about it. This thesis examines how China can use bilateral science diplomacy to further its national development. The premise for writing the thesis is that in order to use science diplomacy as a concept we must first understand what it is and towards what ends it can be used.Science & Technology's dominant position in today's global environment is becoming increasingly clear. In the economic globalization that connects the world more and more, the use of sophisticated S&T in both product designs and production methods has brought science, technology and innovation to a front row position in national development strategies worldwide. Just as importantly, mankind is facing multiple challenges such as climate change, energy shortage, insufficient food supply, environmental degradation, prevention and treatment of disease and spread of contagious disease. There is a strong believe in the ability of science to meet these challenges. The importance of S&T is spurring on a focus on promoting and advancing science. The situation is no different for China. In 2006 the Chinese government announced that the country should adhere to a road of indigenous innovation with Chinese characteristics (zhongguo tese zizhu chuangxin) and create an innovative country by 2020.Whereas the role of S&T has been acknowledged in national development strategies, S&T is only now being acknowledged as a major part of international diplomacy. Economic diplomacy has long been a part of international diplomacy. Now a shift is happening where S&T's role in diplomacy is evolving from "science and technology for diplomacy" to "diplomacy for science and technology". Yet science diplomacy remains vaguely described. Some material has been produced, both in the United States and in China, but even in this material there is a divergence in opinion about what science diplomacy can be used for.The thesis starts out with setting a context for China's use of science diplomacy. China's 2006 national strategy of indigenous innovation with Chinese characteristics is at the backbone of China's science campaign. In order to carry out the strategy and reach the goal of becoming an innovation-oriented nation, China will need to rely on international science cooperation and collaboration. But China faces another challenge, namely its national image. How China sees itself and how the rest of the world sees it currently represents two different perspectives out of balance with each other. National image and national branding are connected to the attractiveness of a nation and with the soft power that a nation posses. One of China's major development challenges is to foster and project a national image that can create an enabling international environment.These two objectives of China-to promote a strategy of indigenous innovation and foster an enabling national image-are in the thesis identified as mutually dependable and mutually beneficial. An enabling national image is important and necessary in order to attract strong cooperation and collaboration partners within S&T. On the other hand, China's international S&T relationships and its focus on the advancement of science, technology and innovation can be prime channels for the promotion of a strong and positive national image and a way to increase China's soft power.Chapter two of the thesis explores what science diplomacy is. In this thesis science diplomacy is identified as having two overall objectives:1) to promote scientific advancement and 2) as a type of public diplomacy to foster an enabling national image and to increase soft power. Science diplomacy is defined in the following way: "Science Diplomacy is international communication, cooperation and collaboration within science and technology among scientific and academic peers, with the aim of promoting scientific advancement while also increasing familiarity and appreciation in other nations in order to influence opinions and actions in a way that benefit the interests of one's own nation".Different kinds of theories can be used to describe how to succeed with the two objectives of science diplomacy. A economic theory on the "learning economy", which describes the nature of knowledge and the issues concerning the mediation of knowledge, shows that in order to promote scientific advancement through international S&T relationships, knowledge cannot simply be transferred. In order for China to reduce the distance of knowledge between itself and the developed countries it must emphasize social relationships within S&T and learning. Only then will it be able to obtain, absorb and exchange knowledge. To build such social relationships and facilitate learning it is necessary to focus on building strong and long-term relationships and foster trust within these relationships.Theories on public diplomacy are used to show that science diplomacy can be understood as the type of public diplomacy that happens within long-tersm relationship building. Public diplomacy can start by increasing familiarity of one's nation, and advance in impact to increasing appreciation for ones nation, then engaging people and finally as a way to influence people. Public diplomacy brands a nation and works to obtain, maximize and utilize soft power. Science diplomacy has the ability to be a powerful tool of China's public diplomacy. Long-term relationships and trust are important, and China needs to consider the strategic messages it wants to convey. In science diplomacy that message should be China as a science and innovation-oriented nation and beneficial partner. Scientists are considered to be trustful people and can earnestly carry the message of China as a nation of science.To demonstrate the area where science diplomacy should be played out, the thesis reviews the Sino-Danish S&T relationship. Denmark is itself a nation committed to building an innovation-oriented country and is a global leader within several scientific fields, especially renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Three different examples of Sino-Danish S&T cooperation and collaboration at national and institutional level are reviewed.The Sino-Danish S&T relationship is found to be based on long-term relationship building. All three examples examined show good possibility for strengthening the social relationships and trust that is necessary for China to use the partnership to obtain, absorb and exchange knowledge in order to promote scientific advancement and advance its goal of becoming an innovation-oriented nation. The relationship at the same time provides China with a strong channel for public diplomacy. Considering the design of the Sino-Danish S&T relationships it highlights that China has proved its attractiveness as an S&T partner. Furthermore, the same long-term relationships and trust necessary to mediate knowledge also serves as strong channels for the mediation of the strategic message of China as a science and innovation-oriented country. This channel can be instrumental for China in order to promote its national image.The analysis further discusses more broadly how China can use science diplomacy.Based on the analysis the thesis concludes that science diplomacy offers China a powerful tool to advance its national development strategy and to foster and project an enabling national image. Both of these are key to China's future development.