South African Science Diplomacy : an analysis of key strategic partnerships

Abstract

This research study critically analyses the evolving approach and implementation of South Africa’s science diplomacy in a rapidly changing world. It recognizes that this environment is characterized by significant geo-political and technological shifts that have a bearing on science diplomacy. There is, as the literature shows, increasing recognition of the key role of science, technology, and innovation in addressing global challenges. The mini-dissertation begins with a description of the research theme of international science and technology cooperation involving South Africa. This is followed by a literature survey, which briefly places the study of South Africa’s use of strategic partnerships as a tool to meet its science diplomacy goals in its policy and academic context. This is followed by an outline of the aim of the study, which is to critically analyze the evolving approach of South Africa’s science diplomacy in a rapidly changing world characterized by significant geopolitical and technological shifts including the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The three main objectives of the study are to distill the character, approach, and role of South Africa’s science diplomacy in the context of key national objectives and foreign policy interests; explore four strategic science, technology and innovation partnerships driven by South Africa- spanning the global North and South; and highlight the salient cultural, policy, institutional, and governance arrangements characterizing South Africa’s science diplomacy and their implications on its role and impact. The study is based on a qualitative research design and employed a desktop review of primary and secondary documentary data available in the public domain. This study found that South Africa’s science diplomacy is strongly aligned to the country’s foreign policy, anchored in ubuntu diplomacy, South-South solidarity, and North-South dialogue. In addition, the study found that the state has aligned the science, technology and innovation agenda to the principles of the Constitution and has elevated the role of science and technology as an essential tool for economic growth, global competitiveness, and social development, and poverty alleviation. The state has been able to attract resources and investments to strengthen the science system while complimenting the country’s foreign policy objectives. However, the study also found that as a result of various critical factors, the outcomes of South Africa’s science diplomacy are severely undermined. Such factors include a lack of high-end skills; an inadequate innovation culture; flat innovation performance; the absence of a science diplomacy engagement strategy and a national innovation policy; policy incoherence, and poor governance of the science, technology and innovation system.