Institutional Framework and Practice of Russian Science Diplomacy
https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2022-5-86-208-225
Abstract
The research deals with a relatively recent phenomenon of science diplomacy as a tool of Russian foreign policy. One of the science diplomacy tracks is 'diplomacy for science. The article investigates this track’s macroand micro-level practices to assess the overall effectiveness of Russian science diplomacy. The authors conducted an indepth analysis of primary sources and semi-structured interviews with academics and diplomats. They conclude that at the micro-level, 'diplomacy for science' is hindered by a lack of legal information on travel rules, poor consolidation of the ‘research diaspora,' and the absence of a regulatory framework to identify those eligible for consular and diplomatic support. A distrust in communication between scholars and diplomats further aggravates the uneven support for scientists across Russian diplomatic missions. At the macro-level, the institutional framework of scientific cooperation between Russia and other states appears vague, featuring non-binding memoranda of understanding and very few detailed agreements.
Keywords
About the Authors
R. O. ReinhardtRussian Federation
Roman O. Reinhardt – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Department of Diplomatic Studies
Pr. Vernadskogo 76, Moscow, Russia, 119454
V. A. Mozebakh
Russian Federation
Vladimir A. Mozebakh – BA (Hons) in Foreign Area Studies, MA candidate in International Relations
Pr. Vernadskogo 76, Moscow, Russia, 119454
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Review
For citations:
Reinhardt R.O., Mozebakh V.A. Institutional Framework and Practice of Russian Science Diplomacy. MGIMO Review of International Relations. 2022;15(5):208-225. https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2022-5-86-208-225