Science in Europe Between War and Peace

This article examines the paradoxical relationship between science and society in contemporary Europe, where public trust in science has reached unprecedented levels even as misinformation and political polarization increasingly challenge evidence-based policymaking. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and artificial intelligence, the author explores what he terms the "technocratic dilemma" — the tension between expert knowledge and democratic decision-making. The piece critically analyzes recent European policy shifts, particularly concerning Horizon Europe, the world's largest civilian research program, which faces pressure to move away from its founding principles of open international collaboration toward a more closed, defense-oriented approach driven by geopolitical tensions. The author argues that while increased investment in research is welcome, Europe risks undermining science's mission by prioritizing competitiveness and strategic autonomy over international cooperation and the integral development of individuals and communities.

Puglisi, A., Science in Europe Between War and Peace, Pupilla (2025), https://pupilla.org/preprints/2025-science-europe-war-peace/

To be published in Italian in Rivista Nuova Umanità.