Editorial: Science diplomacy and neocolonialism: lessons from the field with a view to the future
PMCID: PMC12546189
PMID:
Abstract
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Science diplomacy, understood as the use of scientific cooperation to inform foreign policy and advance shared public goods, has long unfolded under neocolonial conditions that marginalize researchers and publics in the Global South (1). Power asymmetries shape what questions are asked, who leads, how evidence is valued, and who ultimately benefits (1). Recent crises, from COVID-19 to protracted conflicts including those in Ukraine and Palestine, have further exposed how public health collaboration can reproduce inequities rather than redress them (Dajani et al.). Yet across the Global South, practitioners are assembling more inclusive and flexible models that include co-governed research, regionally anchored training platforms, culturally validated metrics, and financing arrangements designed to protect local leadership. This Research Topic examines how public health research and promotion interact with science diplomacy in such contexts, identifies practical strategies for multilateral and interdisciplinary partnerships, and showcases case studies that challenge hierarchies and travel across diverse settings (see included articles in Table 1). While prior work has often centered South America and Asia, this Research Topic highlights under-studied Middle East and African contexts, contributing to a more balanced comparative literature on science diplomacy.
Sections
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