Scientific and Technological Competition among Major Powers and Their Strategic Choices in the International Cooperation of Big Science:A Comparative Analysis of China and the U.S.
Big science is an important way for human beings to explore the frontiers of knowledge and to solve major global problems.While the international big science cooperation is the product of the scientific and technological competition among major powers during the Cold War.From the perspective of traditional major-power competition on science and technology,a state's position in such a competition affects its behavioral choices in the international cooperation on big science.Specifically,the leading states in science and technology prefer the international big science cooperation model led by their own countries.When their leading position is impacted,they will then retreat to seek the cooperation model of multi-country co-construction,and participate in it in a conservative manner.Non-leading states will first choose the cooperation model of multi-country co-construction,improving their own scientific and technological strength through open participation,and then try to take the lead in organizing international big scientific cooperation after achieving a jump in strength and status in certain fields.However,the core of big science has changed with the trends of the times,from the previous mainly military orientation to the current mainly civilian-oriented one.The motivation of states to participate in international big science cooperation has also shifted more and more from serving their national strategic needs of seizing the commanding heights of science and technology to the global common needs of coping with the problems and challenges faced by the survival and development of all human beings.In this context,in the face of limited participation of the United States in current international big scientific cooperation and also its pressure on China with the logic of zero-sum competition,China cannot fall into the trap of the traditional model of major-power competition on science and technology.Rather,it would be a much better choice for China to adhere to the principle of jointly built through consultation to meet the interests of all,and to join hands with more countries to explore ways of mutual beneficial cooperation where big science serves a community with a shared future for mankind.
Scientific and Technological CompetitionBig ScienceInternational CooperationChinathe United StatesScientific and Technological Competition among Major PowersInternational Cooperation on Big Science