In December 2018, a group of worldwide high-level experts on science diplomacy gathered in Madrid to celebrate the 1st S4D4C Global Networking Meeting “EU science diplomacy beyond 2020”. As a result of their discussions, they endorsed the publication of “The Madrid Declaration on Science Diplomacy”.
This document aims to foster agreement and raise awareness about the need to strengthen science diplomacy strategies and practices world-wide for the support of universal scientific and democratic values. Including science and technology as key dimensions of foreign policy and international relationships at different political levels would undoubtedly bring benefits for the joint scientific endeavour, but also to broaden political and societal objectives.
The Madrid Declaration refuses to strictly define the concept of science diplomacy. Instead, it understands it as “a series of practices at the intersection of science, technology and foreign policy” and highlights its growing importance on a global level.
The endorsers of the declaration firmly believe that:
The Madrid meeting also concluded that the potential of science diplomacy is yet to be fully harnessed, citing the following unrealised science diplomacy benefits:
Lastly, the Declaration focuses on the principles to foster science diplomacy worldwide:
Two years after the celebration of this conference, over 165 experts across the globe had endorsed the Madrid Declaration on Science Diplomacy and the document has stirred public and policy debate to deploy better science diplomacy approaches (Cassis 2019). You may learn more about this conference and S4D4C vision of science diplomacy in the topic 3.1.2 The S4D4C approach to science diplomacy: A multi-stakeholder endeavour.
Read more about the Madrid Declaration on Science Diplomacy here: – S4D4C (2019). The Madrid Declaration on Science Diplomacy. Madrid: S4D4C. (Link) – Cassis, Ignazio (2019): “Science diplomacy as an innovative tool in our international relations.” Opinion article on Swissinfo.ch #20yearsSWI, 8 Nov. (Link) |
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