Science can reduce political divisions

Your editorial The limits of science diplomacy highlights the role science can play in forging diplomatic relations between states and suggests that some key political leaders increasingly believe that, at a time of dramatic change, science can help them achieve their goals, whether social, economic or military.

Science can also help forge consensus, surpassing political divisions within countries.

Differences in opinions between the ruling party and the opposition are common in democracies. While both parties should promote national interests, individual political agendas can lead to stalemated debates and limited action.

Such is the case in Bangladesh. Political parties fight just to make their points. A particular problem is deciding how best to exploit rich natural resources; parties constantly battle over which systems or methodologies to adopt and how to make use of foreign partnerships.

Scientific progress could achieve breakthroughs here that diplomacy cannot match. Historically, science has helped overcome political or ideological differences greater than those separating the political parties in Bangladesh.

For example, it played a key role in creating the verification regimes that allowed nuclear arms agreements during the Cold War, and in the creation of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, that helped build bridges among European nations following World War II.

Open dialogue in parliament, grounded in scientific fact, ultimately benefits the ruling party. Strong opposition can be a blessing for both governments and citizens. If justified, it can help political leaders rectify errors or small mistakes unknowingly committed and improve their efficiency.

In Bangladesh, it was the opposition party that raised citizens' concerns over last year's (2009) move to implement 'daylight saving' — where clocks are put forward by one hour to try and save electricity — and that took the lead in getting the decision overturned.

Strength does not mean muscle power. It means having the 'knowledge power' that is essential for a country to develop. The opposition cannot make things happen without cooperation from the government. But they can identify social or economic problems — and potential solutions — and raise them in parliament.

This is precisely what happened in Bangladesh when the opposition raised the issue of exporting natural gases to neighbouring countries and stimulated an informed discussion that culminated in the government adopting their proposals.

Modern democratic government requires a strong opposition party but also a very well balanced parliament equipped with the relevant and effective technology. Parliamentarians must be computer-literate to maintain communication among colleagues on parliamentary issues. They should be trained and empowered with information communication technology knowledge and tools.

In Bangladesh, science and technology are simultaneously solving and creating problems at a pace that seems too fast for us to handle. Such problems are also 'human', involving intuition, pride, cowardice, compassion, greed, arrogance, mercy and justice.

Take, for example, mobile phones. This technology has permeated Bangladeshi society and brought many benefits. But, at the same time, criminals are using mobile phone technology for criminal activities.

Science has the power to shift debates and, in some instances, catalyse political action. In particular, scientific collaboration is critical in improving our understanding of the risks and potential solutions associated with resource scarcity.

Science can support politics, but politicians must also support science. In Bangladesh, politics and science need to come closer together — so politics can be better informed by science's potential.