Debating across history, theory and strategy for European science diplomacy

This short essay appears in: Mays C, Laborie L, Griset P (eds) (2022) Inventing a shared science diplomacy for Europe: Interdisciplinary case studies to think with history. InsSciDE - like H2020 research in general - is strategic research, because it is fundamental research for the purpose of answering a strategic problem of the funder. InsSciDE is strategic research into how Europe (the European Union, its institutions and member states) can benefit from science diplomacy to strengthen Europe’s place in the world and improve the security and safety of the EU and its citizens. The InsSciDE consortium of fifteen partner institutions has, from our first working encounters in July and September 2016, intensely debated the relationship between fundamental historical research into science diplomacy and the relationship with the H2020 call, European science diplomacy, and engagement of the stakeholders. The cross-cutting theme “Power With Science Diplomacy'' has been a central reference in these ongoing debates. We have sought to connect the fundamental historical research on science diplomacy with social and political science theory on power, international relations, and strategy formulation for the EU