Khatkevich

The article presents the results of a comparative study of BRICS countries’ science diplomacy conceptual foundations. Science diplomacy is a system of interactions in building foreign policy, solving regional and global problems, establishing international scientific ties for the development of joint activities of the world scientific community aimed at increasing knowledge, and promoting the constructive international dialogue. This phenomenon is analysed in the article primarily as an instrument of foreign policy. As a result of operationalising the conceptual foundations identified by the qualitative content analysis, instrumental characteristics were formulated in each case to establish which approach to defining science diplomacy a state adheres to. These approaches were correlated with the roots of science diplomacy and considered in the context of contemporary conceptualisation of BRICS countries’ foreign policies.