EU Science Diplomacy in the Middle East

This book offers the first comprehensive analysis of how the European Union defines, practises, operationalises, and is perceived through science diplomacy in the Middle East. It examines the intersection of science, innovation, and diplomacy across three key countries—Jordan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia—revealing how cooperation in research and innovation shapes the EU’s foreign policy and global influence. Moving beyond the conceptual debates that dominate current literature, the book investigates how EU science diplomacy operates in practice. It explores the frameworks, mechanisms, and instruments that underpin EU engagement in the region, and shows how national capacities, innovation ecosystems, and geopolitical contexts determine different patterns of collaboration. A distinctive contribution of this work is the introduction of perception as a new variable in the study of science diplomacy. By analysing how EU actions are understood and received locally, the study exposes the symmetries and asymmetries that influence trust, visibility, and cooperation outcomes. Drawing on extensive research and comparative case studies, the book highlights both the achievements and limitations of EU science diplomacy, identifying opportunities for more coherent and proactive external action. It concludes with concrete policy recommendations for strengthening the EU’s role as a credible global science and innovation actor. This is important and essential reading for academics, researchers and policy-makers interested in the changing dynamics of diplomatic relations between the two regions.