Science and International Relations: Brazil and the Geopolitics of Knowledge

Abstract

The article seeks to present a new approach to analyse Science and International Relations. Three areas of social theory ought to be examined before a useful synthesis can be made. The article proceeds to study how the disciplines of International Relations, Science and Technology Studies and Critical Geopolitics could be deployed to provide a unique approach to the understanding of the Science and International Relations nexus. Each discipline has unique advantages but also serious limitations when it comes to the provision of a holistic understanding of the issue. For instance, International Relations tends to relate questions on science to the notion of sovereignty, thus limiting research to the effect that science has on the ability of States to act. Science and Technology Studies tend to neglect the role of International Relations in the development of scientific endeavours, whilst Critical Geopolitics has not yet embraced the symbolic power that knowledge generation and deployment techniques have on the successful exploitation of strategic resources. Following this analysis a synthesis entitled "The Geopolitics of Knowledge" will be introduced. This study makes substantial use of Actor-Network Theory as a methodology to analyse the Science and International Relations link from a new perspective. Finally, the article will introduce Brazil as a case study for this multidisciplinary approach.Keywords: Science; Brazil; International Relations; Geopolitics of Knowledge.