Field science and scientific collaboration in the Svalbard Archipelago: beyond science diplomacy

Abstract The presence of non-Arctic and non-European countries in the Arctic has been growing over the past two decades. Given the geographic distance of these countries from the polar region, their presence in the High North may seem surprising. In this article, we study the presence in Svalbard of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science and Public Policy
Main Authors: Strouk, Mayline, Maisonobe, Marion
Other Authors: Royal Society of Edinburgh
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scae012
https://academic.oup.com/spp/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/scipol/scae012/57418948/scae012.pdf
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Summary:Abstract The presence of non-Arctic and non-European countries in the Arctic has been growing over the past two decades. Given the geographic distance of these countries from the polar region, their presence in the High North may seem surprising. In this article, we study the presence in Svalbard of scientists from different origins and how they interact through an analysis of the field missions in which they are involved. Combining network analysis and interviews, we highlight the role of the stations located in the archipelago for access to the field and the cooperation strategies of scientists, including those from countries that do not have stations above the Arctic Circle. We tackle issues of integration in this area by empirically discussing three logics: (1) scientific autonomy, (2) core-periphery structure, and (3) regional patterns of cooperation, thus going beyond an approach strictly limited to the analysis of science diplomacy policies.