The Role of Science Diplomacy in Enhancing the Effectiveness of International Legal Cooperation (A Case Study: The Development of Legal Regimes for Specific Spaces)

The article addresses the concept, formats, and role of science diplomacy in the development of international cooperation, presenting it as one of the foundations for strengthening such cooperation and for producing expert solutions that can be employed in the conclusion of international treaties and in the adoption of instruments by international organizations and fora. The paper identifies the potential of science diplomacy across various domains in the context of the strategic documents of the Russian Federation, on the one hand, and the concept of sustainable development, on the other; it delineates the principal directions of science diplomacy and identifies its actors. Special attention is paid to the significance of science diplomacy for the development of legal regimes governing specific spaces, as exemplified by the Arctic and the Caspian Sea. The study examines formats of science diplomacy and highlights prominent practices in which scientific cooperation is of decisive importance given the distinct environmental agendas of these regions. It is shown that the development of science diplomacy is driven by the need to reduce the conflict potential of international relations, by the enduring value of sustaining international cooperation in a multipolar world, and by the capacity of science diplomacy to contribute to the formation of new norms of international law, particularly with respect to its progressive development. In conclusion, the article synthesizes the role of science diplomacy both for international relations and for the protection of the national interests of the state.