UNU CRIS: Soft power on the carousel of leadership: An examination of the public-science diplomacy nexus during EU Council Presidencies

The research aims at analysing the ways in which the member states and institutional actors within regional organisations (initially, the European Union (EU), followed by other regional settings, e.g., the African Union (AU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)) leverage public-science diplomacy during their rotational leadership of multilateral regional bodies and deploy public-science diplomacy strategies in support of their foreign policy objectives. The research aims at addressing the following research questions: What is the overlap between science diplomacy and public diplomacy? What opportunities at the science-public diplomacy nexus exist for countries holding rotational leadership positions? Do states take advantage of these opportunities during their leadership tenures? How? If so, what motivates states to utilize these strategies at the public-science diplomacy nexus and what obstacles are encountered? The research will kick off with an analysis of the EU Council Presidency as a primary case, examining member states’ strategies in harnessing public-science diplomacy opportunities during their tenure. This approach will be deepened through a comparative study of various presidencies, benefitting from the candidate’s extensive experience and established network in this domain. The ambition is to develop a versatile model applicable to other regional organizations (e.g., AU, ASEAN, OSCE), focusing on the intricate relationship between leadership roles and public-science diplomatic efforts. This research project is driven by two objectives: to enrich the foundational knowledge of science diplomacy by integrating it with public diplomacy concepts, and to strategically enhance the UNTRAD collaboration between UNU-CRIS and VUB through a focused examination of leadership dynamics in multilateral regional organizations. Addressing the academic void in science diplomacy, the study aims to integrate it within the broader framework of public diplomacy research. It will thoroughly investigate how scientific achievements can amplify a nation's soft power in the context of rotational leadership, employing Nicholas Cull’s public diplomacy taxonomy as an analytical lens for identifying integration points for science diplomacy. Further, the research will explore the potential policy implications and actionable insights for maximizing the benefits of rotational leadership positions in diplomacy, with a particular focus on science communication and digital diplomacy's growing role. Methodologically, the study will incorporate qualitative interviews, document analysis, and content analysis, anchored in the concept of “productive interaction” as delineated in social impact assessment methodologies, notably Jack Spaapen and Leonie van Drooge’s work. This multifaceted approach aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of public-science diplomacy's effectiveness, offering strategic insights into the advantages and challenges of rotational leadership in enhancing multilateral diplomacy.