Science Diplomacy for Sustainable Peace and Economic Development
A case study of the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
The unprecedented 2020’s Coronavirus outbreak has seen a global response to address cross border health challenges and a global effort to protect citizens across the world. Former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown illustrated it well when he said that many of the challenges that we face today are international, and these global problems require a global solution. He adds that this is why it is important to create a new role for science in international policy-making and diplomacy (Brown, 2009).
This paper is intended to focus on a different problem which has been in light for many years, well before the recent global pandemic. Here, the focus is on political instability and the long-standing state fragility in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region; a region known for its tremendous natural resources and general political instability. The yearly report from the Fragile State Index clearly shows the constant high alert level in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region over the years (The Fund For Peace, 2021); an alert level showing the vulnerability of states to conflict or collapse. This is a global problem because of the resulting mass immigration which sees Africans make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea in search of work and a better life. This northbound exodus also puts economic pressures on European countries and mostly those along the Mediterranean Basin. The Council on Foreign Relations argues that this issue has taken on economic as well as humanitarian urgency (Backgrounder. 2010).
Let’s add to the aforementioned problems, the growing Al-Qaeda presence in the region which intensifies the prevailing instability in the SSA region.
Now, could science diplomacy be a key for sustainable peace and tangible economic development in developing countries, and in particular in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region?
Since we live in a globally interconnected world and facing a global problem, the use of a Socratic method would be necessary to answer this research question without advocacy. This approach is intended to stimulate a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue based on asking and answering questions to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.
The arguments under analysis will cover the balance between supranational and subnational interests against common interests, which should eventually lead to informed decision making for Sustainable peace and tangible economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Analysis
There is no doubt that the 21st century has imposed the need for more neoteric diplomats. With the rise of international conflicts and issues resulting in cross-border problems, there are now more stakeholders involved which logically implies that all these stakeholders could be a part of the international quest for solutions (Ramsbotham et al., 2011). A practical illustration of the efficacy of science diplomacy has been seen in several instances in the past including through the signature of the Antarctic Treaty in December 1959 by the United States and Soviet Union. This treaty resulted from the realisation that it was in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica continues to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and does not become an arena of international conflict (British Antarctic Survey, 2015). The 2016’s Paris Climate agreement is another remarkable illustration of the efficiency of science diplomacy, where representatives of 196 states parties came together to negotiate and establish the basis of an agreement.
While experts use a wide variety of definitions to the concept of science diplomacy, this research paper considers the integration of science as a process for pursuing answers and the use of genuine dialogue and cooperation between countries and citizens in order to reach an informed decision-making. Those decisions can then be used to inform and support foreign policy objectives.
It is more than ever important to recognize the implications of our globally interconnected world which pushes for more cooperation and dialogue among states. The evidence of mass immigration as a result of socio-political instability in the SSA region is tangible. The Pew Research Center asserts that international migration from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa has grown dramatically over the past decade including to Europe and the United State (Pew Research Center, 2018). Most years since 2010 have witnessed a rising inflow of Sub Saharan asylum applicants in Europe and in the US. Although the factors pushing people to
leave the SSA region may vary from country to country, a report by the OECD cites the lack of economic opportunities and the prevailing insecurity as main reasons why people embark on perilous journeys to the Western world (OECD Publication, 2018).
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) report named “Scaling Fences” reported similar findings on the reasons why African migrants were willing to undertake dangerous journeys. This problem opens the debate on several questions including inequalities, peace and justice as well as stronger institutions. In fact, most of these issues fall under the recommendations
of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN Sustainable Development Goals, 2015). However, the urgency of the question being discussed in this paper could be another global situation which calls for urgent action and cooperation at a multilateral level.
It is said that exponential change is a fundamental feature of our globally interconnected civilization. As we consider mass immigration as a consequence of socio-economic and lasting socio-political instability in the SSA region, it is relevant to consider all available data on the subject. Overall the number of international migrants has dramatically increased over the past two decades with about 271,642,105 international migrants recorded in 2019 against 173,588,441 in the year 2000.
This is a 56% increase against 13% recorded in the previous decade (IOM Publications, 2020). This data denotes the exponential changes in migration and the need for a globally
coordinated response involving all stakeholders. Therefore, it becomes evident that resolving the migrant influx problem involves a scientific process where knowledge is generated from constructive dialogue and cooperation among state actors and non-state actors.
Besides, it is easier to understand security issues in matters related to the need for urgent international cooperation. This is seen in both the Paris Climate Change agreement and the Antarctic Treaty cited above. This is because the danger is far more perceptible now which is not always the case with the migration crisis. Whereas, when we start reflecting about Sustainability in the face of the migration crisis, this involves crucial emergencies across time mainly because of uncertainty and the growing global repercussions which is now trending upward. While constant security issues in the Sub-Saharan Africa region do not necessarily represent an immediate global threat, the options on more multilateral dialogue could still be prioritised against military interventions as a global prevention measure.
It is a fact that the SSA region reflects a continent in crisis marked with war, disease and starvation with the blame being placed on Africans themselves. Elizabeth Schmidt, an Emeritus Professor of history at Loyola University Maryland, points out the historical roots of contemporary problems in Africa which depict the predicaments facing the continent today, (Schmidt, 2013). The Professor’s 2013 publication explores foreign political and military interventions in Africa during the periods of decolonization (1956–1975) and the Cold War (1945–1991), with reflections on the later periods of state collapse (1991–2001) and the “global war on terror” known as terrorism (2001–2010).
If there are instability issues resulting from the decolonization process where imperial powers hoped to transfer the reins of governments to local democratic African regimes, this implies that either the local democratic processes are questionable along with their institutions or there is probably a failure of inclusive multilateral dialogue among all stakeholders during the post-decolonization period. History often has an important role to play in conflict resolution (Morton Deutsch et al., 2006). Defining the source of the conflict leads to a better understanding of all the issues and stakeholders at stake, which could inspire appropriate resolutions. These resolutions can then be shaped in more efficient and sustainable local and foreign policies, and diplomats have an important role to play in this respect.
Furthermore, the sustainability aspect of the migration issue from the SSA region as well as the tangible socio-economic development of the region, could be addressed through the
theory of informed decision making. The analysis of evidence, data and options while using dialogue and diplomatic cooperation could be a key to unlock progress and sustainability in the region. Professor Berkman P.A demonstrates this approach on several important global
issues (Berkman, 2017). The data available on mass migration today provides some evidence and the need for scientific and impactful decisions to address issues and resources within, across, and beyond national boundaries. However, for these decisions to be totally effective and be impactful across time, there is a need for those options and decisions to be taken without advocacy, and in the best interest of all humans across the globe.
It can be challenging to act without advocacy when dealing with solutions to cross-borders issues. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has made an important contribution to the quest for the best approach in dealing with some global crisis or conflicts. The IFRC sees the concept of Humanitarian Diplomacy as a global responsibility (IFRC, 2009). The federation describes the concept of Humanitarian Diplomacy as the process of persuading decision makers and opinion leaders to act, at all times, in the interests of vulnerable people, and with full respect for fundamental humanitarian principles.
In the case of the prevailing development crisis in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, there are of course diplomats who act for the best interest of their states both in the Western world and on the African continent. Enabling a holistic and bipartisan dialogue could create an avenue for local and international state actors, non-governmental organisations and other protagonists to discuss more constructively and to reach informed decisions.
It is said that informed decisions for sustainability operate across a continuum of urgencies (Berkman, 2017). It extends from security time scales that is; mitigating risks of socio political instabilities which are more immediate to sustainability time scales, and balancing economic prosperity, societal welfare and environmental protection across generations for nations and the world. A consideration is also to be given to governance mechanisms and built infrastructures. In substance, Professor Berkman argues that informed decision-making is scalable to a given situation in order to achieve progress with security and sustainability. His findings suggest that informed decisions require a close analysis of both governance mechanisms and built infrastructures. An example of informed decisions seen in the Covid 19 pandemic has been the idea of mass inoculation and the idea of vaccine passports which are currently being discussed and implemented in some part of the world. In this practical and current situation, the continuum of urgencies has been such as protecting nations via mass inoculation, and reopening global mobility and the economy with the idea of a vaccine passport for the interest of safety and sustainability. It is important to emphasise that those informed decisions were reached through an international cooperation, exchanges and dialogue. While the crisis in the SSA region is a different problem at stake, the approach to find an effective solution is no different to the aforementioned global problem.
Dialogue is not only a necessary answer to conflict but it is in many ways one of the most effective ways to promote the best in humanity. For former UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova, dialogue implies reciprocity of communication and the acceptance that truth does not and cannot belong to a singular group alone. Since "conflict begins where dialogue ceases", it is therefore essential to search for ways past political fragmentation and strive to find common ground for debate (Bokova, 2010). As we live in an interconnected world with people belonging to different cultures and civilizations, facing new global issues, international dialogues must be adapted to the evolving political landscape in the current era of globalization. Besides, the former and late UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, stated that “The United Nations was created in the belief that dialogue can triumph over discord, that diversity is a universal virtue and that the peoples of the world are far more united by their common fate than they are divided by their separate identities.” (UN Academic Impacts, Archives). These powerful quotes encapsulate the idea that holistic dialogues remain essential to unlock the deadlock and circles of instability in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, as long as due consideration is given to cultural differences and inclusion of all stakeholders.
Now, have effective and holistic dialogues been used to generate ideas toward the quest for sustainable and tangible economic development in the SSA region? It is hard to find a direct answer to this question. On the contrary, it is much easier to find the huge amount of humanitarian actions and interventions to attenuate the consequences of conflicts and poverty across most parts of the African continent. The OECD statistics (OECD, 2019), gives an idea on the volume and importance of international aid towards the African continent. The data snapshot shown in the table below reveals the upward trend of the net disbursements towards the continent which is not surprising when we consider the exponential changes in migration and socio-political instability.
Source: OECD, Development Aid To Africa at a Glance, 2019 Statistics
The report on the intensity and upward trend of humanitarian efforts towards the African continent is another indication that new solutions can be considered if we wish to really eradicate poverty and seriously break the deadlock and circle of instability in the Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) region. Hanna Tetteh, the United Nation’s Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, points out that there is potential for an African continent without war. She recognises that the last two decades have witnessed considerable political progress and comparative economic growth, and some conflicts have ended. However, it is essential to look beyond simply ending conflicts to addressing the root causes of conflicts. “And the root causes of conflict lie in bad governance which creates inequalities and does not promote growth and development. It’s important that we realise that peace is not a state that once achieved, can be taken for granted. Even countries that are relatively stable need conditions that help consolidate and enhance peace and stability, that is; good governance, inclusiveness, strong institutions, the rule of law, etc.” (Hanna Tetteh, 2020). This stance strengthens the idea that it is now essential to focus on creating more avenues for holistic dialogues where all parties can be gathered for an effective mediation and negotiation to happen. This could inevitably set the basis of informed decisions for sustainable solutions. If this new approach is not considered, there is a possibility to continue to see an upward
trend in the amount of both humanitarian international aid along with the circle of instability and problems in the SSA region, as revealed by the scientific evidence.
Furthermore, balancing national interest and common interest appears to be the main challenge in the resolution of global problems. For example, an historical fact is that Foreign Ministries are most of the time guided by national interest even when they collaborate on global goals. The degree to which global concerns are incorporated into national aspirations becomes one of the most important factors in determining whether countries can tackle worldwide problems together (William Colglazier, 2021). It is relevant to mention the notable success achieved in vaccines development against the COVID-19 deadly virus. International “trade rivals” have come together to develop a life-saving vaccine in the best interest of people and nations. The same observation is obvious with the COVAX initiative which is aimed at equitable COVID-19 vaccines. This practical and more recent illustration shows how important is the prioritisation of global interest above national interest.
In the same respect, a strong and two-way diplomatic engagement with Africa matters. Tom Gargill, a former Assistant Head of the Africa Programme at Chatham House in the United Kingdom, argues that the overwhelming humanitarian interest of many Western countries and traditional partners has led to a global stereotyped perception of Africa in terms only of problems. He argues that the African continent is the foundation of the global supply chain; a strategic source of almost 40% of the world raw material and energy essential for global growth with an increasingly important population (Cargill, 2010). This natural endowment’s characteristic exposes the continent as a prey or a pie for grab in the pursuit of national ego and global supremacy. It, therefore, becomes challenging to easily obtain a consensus for solving the ongoing crisis across Africa in general and the SSA region in particular.
During the year 2010, the General Assembly established the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) to enhance the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security, and to provide coordinated United Nations advice to the African Union on both long-term capacity-building and short-term operational support, while streamlining the United Nations presence at the African Union (AU) to be more cost-effective and efficient in delivering United Nations assistance to Africa. The UN Special Representative at the African Union, Hanna Tetteh (2020), argues that there are currently three partnerships between the UN and the AU: There is the Partnership on Africa's Integration and Development Agenda (PAIDA), one on Peace and Security, and another on
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. A fourth partnership framework, on human rights, has been negotiated but not yet signed. The partnership which is largely implemented by the UNOAU is the one on peace and security. This is rather good news, as those initiatives demonstrate the active role of the United Nations in conflict resolution and in creating sustainable economic development in the SSA region. However, dialogue and inclusiveness of all stakeholders remain essential for the success of international cooperation and sustainable development.
In the face of all global challenges, it is unarguably true that the presence of the United Nations has brought an important contribution in finding solutions to global issues. This could imply that giving more power and authority to the United Nations as a supranational entity can be beneficial in balancing national interest and common interest for the benefits of all people on earth.
Conclusion
Science Diplomacy appears as an important and successful approach in resolving global and complex issues. This approach can also be considered to address and resolve political instability issues and poverty in developing countries in general and in the Sub-Saharan Africa region in particular. The implication of our globally interconnected world today calls for a globally coordinated response to address global issues in a more efficient and sustainable manner. The journey to reach informed decision-making for sustainability can the one where advocacy and national interests are lowered to give place to global and common interest. This can be achieved through a holistic and bipartisan global dialogue.
The innovation required is to balance our global economic prosperity, environmental protection and societal well-being everywhere in the world. These three pillars of sustainability further involve stability, balancing urgencies of the moment and of future generations.
A major benefit of the United Nations 2030 Agenda with the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the framing of national interest as part of the global interest.
Whatever a country seeks to accomplish for its own prosperity, security, resilience, and quality of life can be found somewhere in the SDGs.
Promoting the implementation of the UN 2030 agenda through the SDGs is now even more important than ever in order to create sustainable development and economic prosperity in developing countries, and diplomats have a crucial role to play in achieving this.Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
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Research Paper submitted to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, May 2021.
