How science and technology has shaped the foreign policy

How science and technology has shaped the foreign policy

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Introduction

The decisions by the governments and intergovernmental; organizations tend to be political process; however, in a technology-driven world, science and technology advice is necessary for the political decisions. The forces of technology tend to be ushering a new age of openness. The journalists, governments, and non-governmental organization can now harness the flood of open source information from different technologies so as to reveal hidden activities in contested areas. Technology tends to be having a magnificent change in the world we live in and the changes do have significant impact on different policies. Technology is praised on how it has changed our lives through enhancing communication, raising awareness, empowering individuals, and spreading democracy across the world. In this paper, I will discuss how technology is helping in shaping the foreign policy.

Technology and foreign policy

Foreign policy or foreign affairs consists of the self-interest strategies that the state select to safeguard its national interests and also achieve goals within its international relations. The foreign policy does dictate how the country should act with respect to other countries economically, politically, socially, and militarily. Thus, the foreign policy tends to define how a nation can relate to other nations in international affairs that may impact its multilateral and bilateral relations with other countries (Skolnikoff, 1969). The policy should be flexible enough so as to harmonize the national interests with the regional interests and also routed in clear convictions regarding certain national priorities that may not be compromised irrespective of the external compulsions. The rapid development of communication technologies did have multiple effects on tools and forms of foreign services. Technology is not the end in itself, but it represents a means and communication tool for the ministry of foreign affairs in increasing efficiency in certain operations. Technology is greatly shaping the areas of foreign policy. Science and technology have had an impact on American foreign policy in constraining, enabling, and forcing new choices in positions that the US government can take in the promotion of its global interests Malik A (2016).

The new technologies tend to ease or burden of our collective and individual lives. The technology advances have been a cornerstone of the military planning and security planning, mostly since World War II. Technology innovation does enable people to do things, for instance, the development of the nuclear weapon and the inter-continental ballistic missiles that change the nature of warfare and geopolitics (Malik, 2004). The science and technology developments tend to be central factors in determining our national economic competitiveness. These developments also have a profound effect on values, institutions, and the patterns of decision-making of the society. Technology has helped shaped foreign policy through accelerating transformation in areas of institutions, security, dialogue, and leadership.

How technology is shaping foreign policy

People claim that the traditional underlying impact of state power is no longer a dominant catalyst at play. That is true, and the evolution of technology has helped in empowering people and has created commanding media that is capable of challenging the existing national supremacy while at the same time directing a new world order. In the modern world, technology is intimately embedded in the national priorities and international areas that it is becoming an inseparable component of foreign relations (Firlej & Kluz 2015). In the era of the fast information transfer and the rapid development of new generation technologies, the foreign relations among states tend to be conflicting. However, technology can bring concurring interests and valued into a constant confrontation without sufficient and clear evidence of the guilt and responsibilities.

The science and technology collaboration between countries provide useful channels and networks of communication that may be used in supporting wider policy goals. The scientific community tends to work beyond national boundaries on the problems of common interest; thus, it is well placed to support the emerging forms of diplomacy that can need non-traditional alliances of nations (Malik, 2004). When aligned with the wider foreign policy goals, the channels of scientific exchange do contribute to the coalition-building and conflict resolution. The satellite technology capabilities tend to have major dual-use potentials, and modern society is becoming dependent on the satellite-based systems for international interactions (Skolnikoff, 1969). These technologies have been helpful in allowing for communication between nations when discussing issues relating to foreign affairs.

Technology is shaping the foreign policy through redefining actions by institutions and alliances. The international organizations and alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization tend to benefit greatly from the data-driven technologies that enable them to deliver better services and also exchange volumes of information in real-time Malik A (2016). With the large data, the institutions can use the advanced technologies in solving some of the global problems and concerns. The availability of technology is facilitating smoother foreign relations. Science and technology tend to offer soft power to the countries for their international outreach objectives. While focusing on the foreign policy, the scientific exchange and the technology cooperation tend to contribute to the coalition building and in conflict resolution, which is vital to international peace.

The interconnection of science and technology with the foreign policy are very important in the globalized, multi-polar world of today (Firlej & Kluz 2015). Most defining challenges of the 21st century from the human security to concerns about global climate change and from the security of outer space to security of cyberspace tend to have scientific and technological dimensions Malik A (2016). These are some of the global issues, and there is no one country that can resolve the problems on its own. The techniques, tools and tactics of foreign policy are adapting to the changing world of increasing scientific and technical complexity.

Science and technology are shaping foreign policy regarding dialogue, whereby the technology is reinventing the art of diplomacy and international policy. The advances in ICT have helped to increase the speed, efficiency, scale, and geographical scope of each of the processes of foreign policy (Firlej & Kluz 2015). With the advancement in technology, the policy makers tend to be responding to events with the internet speed if they want to frame how a certain issue is perceived by the public. Today, the time and speed on how they affect international processes are not defined by the access to transportation and communication facilities. The breakthroughs in technologies are enabling the instant contact; hence, creating ease in managing diplomacy and also organizing the political dialogue. Traditionally, formal representatives did have to wait for months to receive a relevant course of actions and instructions. Today, the new technology channels tend to have replaced the outdated forms of communications. The officials tend to have continuous access to information and live networks that empower organizational dialogue and also provide international communications; thus, enhancing the action, responsiveness, and regulation Malik A (2016). Today, most of the politicians and ambassadors are using social media platforms such as Twitter to interact with policymakers, officials, and citizens. Twitter tends to have two major positive effects on the foreign policy.

The first is that it fosters beneficial exchange of ideas between the policy makers and the civil society and second it enhances ability of diplomats to gather information and to analyze, anticipate, manage, and react to events Malik A (2016). Technology does provide the opportunity for creating effective digital platforms that may be used in assisting in critical decision-making process between governments (Weiss, 2005). In most cases, authorities tend to struggle to cooperate on some of the essential issues during the regular summits and in multilateral forums. However, the advancement in technology is creating an opportunity for sustainable and prominent platforms for dialogue and decision-making so as to enhance the global governance and responsiveness.

The technology revolution has been effective in foreign policy making. States tend to be recognizing the role that technology play in enhancing diplomatic functions. The use of technologies like virtual and online conferencing and e-mail at international negotiations has made it possible for the delegations to communicate in real time with home office for the information on official positions or even the in formulation of advice to anticipated issues (Malik, 2004). The IT tools are enabling resource-deficient states, which would not be able to attend the meetings, to maintain a virtual presence and participate through electronic media.

Technology does play an essential role in exercising influence and control. The foreign policy is handled by the foreign ministers, ambassadors on diplomatic assignments, and government secretaries who are using technological advantage available so as to achieve diplomatic objective (Skolnikoff, 1969). The impact of technology is now increasing in the modern world and leveraging the technology for political or economic gain is becoming a norm. The technological knowledge is an essential component for retaining the diplomatic effectiveness and also for meeting the challenges in the global affairs (Firlej & Kluz 2015). The emerging knowledge society is demanding that statecraft should include new sensitivities the of electronic medium that does allow for instant communication and the information diffusion, which is due to the wide access to the modern information and communication technology. The advanced technology has helped in bringing in various new techniques for the quick information dissemination and situational awareness on the sensitive issues (Weiss, 2005). As a result of the new technology, it has helped in reducing the time slot for diplomatic dialogue. Also, technology has helped in shaping the security in regards to foreign policy as it has made it possible to have real-time access to the enemy communication; thus, fine tune our strategy in real time.

Technology is also playing a role in shaping soft power of nations and their foreign policy (Firlej & Kluz 2015). The management of global public goods such as the World Wide Web is an important instrument of America soft power in the 21st century. The internet does rely an on global network of satellites, most of which the US government own. The government has developed advanced terrorism intelligence system that world closely with high-tech satellite and equipment. The foreign assistance through the organizations such as USAID and leading contributions to UN development activities are critical instruments of America’s soft power (Malik, 2004). The ability of America to use technology in various aspects demonstrates that a nation with large amount of soft power can build coalitions and even persuade other countries to comply through persuasion and not coercion. The advances in information technology have helped in increasing the power of the non-state actors to influence the events through making it easy for them to gather information and exchange the information and coordinate their activities.

The science and technology has had a significant impact on the practice of foreign policies. In the past, the foreign policy decisions were once the result of secret negotiations. However, new players have entered the diplomatic state and uncontrollable flow of information and the directional shift in communication is changing the social structures. Monopoly of power has moved from the states the to corporation, small organization, individuals, and media (Weiss, 2005). The progress in technology is making anyone a potential diplomat. As technology allows for an easy flow of information, it is possible for the policy makers to have access to sufficient information that they can use during the decision-making process.

Conclusion

Today, our world is increasingly defined by the technological innovations and scientific advancement. Most countries such as US and China view the national security, economic competitiveness, and well-being of the population as linked to their capabilities in technology, innovation, and science. Science and technology tend to be a high-priority for all nations and even the poor developing countries are investing in building technology core competence for the rapid enhancement in the national power. Science and technology is important to more facets of the foreign policy. The country’s foreign policy is usually designed in a manner so as to preserve and promote national, interest in the changing dynamics of the international politics. Today, foreign policy is depending upon the ability of the country to integrate current scientific and technological knowledge into the diplomacy for projecting the comprehensive national power in the international affairs.  It is clear that science and technology knowledge, a culture of innovation, technological self-reliance, and techno-economic superiority does represent the core of national power.

As the modern technology continue empowering individuals with amazing capability, it is increasingly clear that it is a quality of people that does make the nation great in future and quality of awareness that will drive the human quality enhancement. Technology is a driver of power and legitimacy in areas of foreign policy and we need leaders who do understand the complexities of technology who will use the technology in promoting a global culture that meets the legitimate needs of people. It is necessary that we recognize the impact that technology can have on our country. The future technological breakthrough will be able to transform our world in the same way the internet did; thus, leading to rebalancing of the global economy and also the power within it. It is important that the foreign policy should consider drawing the maximum benefits from the advances in technology since the globalised and interdependent world will be demanding different approach to foreign affairs and the foreign policy should adapt to the new paradigm.

Reference

Weiss, C (2005). Science, technology, and international relations. Technology in Society. 27

Malik A (2016). The role of technology in international affairs. Pentagon Press

Malik, A (2004). Technology and security in the 21st century Oxford University Press

Firlej, M & Kluz, A (2015). The impact of technology on foreign affairs. Foreign Policy Association. 

Skolnikoff, E (1969). Science, technology, and American foreign policy. The MIT Press

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in best nursing writing services if you need a similar paper you can place your order for custom nursing papers.