33. Science Diplomacy with Diplomatic Relations to Facilitate Common-Interest Building

The world is experiencing exponential change, as reflected most immediately by the COVID-19 pandemic over months-years, but also over decades-centuries with Earth’s climate and human population growth. We also are living in a globally interconnected civilization, as revealed without ambiguity by the world wars of the twentieth century. Perspectives about the diplomatic environment that were urgent to address after the Second World War, as reflected by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, underscore diplomatic transformations that are necessary for humanity in the twenty-first century and beyond. The local-global challenge forever is to balance national interests and common interests on a planetary scale, recognizing nations will always consider their national interests first and foremost. This chapter reflects on the holistic (international, interdisciplinary, and inclusive) dynamics of science diplomacy as a language of hope with informed decision-making capacities to build common interests “for the benefit of all on Earth across generations.”