China’s Arctic Narrative as a Component of its Science Diplomacy Practices

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 1 - 11, 15.04.2024

Merve Müge Şengül Bektaş

Abstract

This study explores China's multifaceted Arctic narrative through the lenses of science diplomacy concept. The article starts with China's rationales in the Arctic Region, providing a critical reading of science diplomacy to demonstrate the evolution of the concept over time. After explaining the rationales behind the use of the science diplomacy concept in the Arctic Region, China's Arctic narrative is discussed under the umbrella of the science diplomacy concept. The main question of the study is how China uses narratives through its science diplomacy practices in order to justify its presence. Approaching the question through the emerging science diplomacy explanations rather than those of traditional ones, the study contributes both critical science diplomacy studies and China’s dovish standing the in the Arctic region on the ground of its Arctic narrative. The study concludes that, China enjoys the Arctic-club by using its narrative addressing traditional science diplomacy, while its ambitions strategically align with the emerging concept.

Keywords

China, science diplomacy, Arctic Region, narrative

Çin'in Arktik Anlatısının Tamamlayıcısı Olarak Bilim Diplomasisi Pratikleri

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Çin'in çok yönlü Arktik anlatısını bilim diplomasisi perspektifinden incelemektedir. Çalışma Çin'in Arktik Bölgesi'ndeki gerekçeleri ile başlamakta, bilim diplomasisine eleştirel okuma yaparak kavramın zaman içindeki değişimini ele almaktadır. Arktik Bölgesi'nde bilim diplomasisi kavramının kullanılmasındaki gerekçelerin açıklanmasının ardından Çin’in Arktik anlatısı bilim diplomasisi nosyonu altında tartışılmaktadır. Çalışmanın ana sorusu, Çin'in bölgedeki meşruiyetini sağlamak için bilim diplomasisi pratiklerinde nasıl anlatılar kullandığıdır. Araştırma sorusu, geleneksel bilim diplomasi yaklaşımının yerine eleştirel bilim diplomasisi açıklamaları üzerinden tartışılmıştır. Çalışma, eleştirel bilim diplomasisi çalışmalarına katkıda bulunmaktadır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, Çin'in geleneksel bilim diplomasisini ele alan anlatısıyla Arktik kulübünde kendine yer edindiğini, ancak stratejik hedeflerinin yeni ortaya çıkan bilim diplomasi konseptiyle uyumlu olduğu ortaya koyulmuştur.

Keywords

Çin, bilim diplomasisi, Arktik Bölgesi, anlatı

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