The scholar and geopolitics
At the end of 2025, international geopolitics disrupted the organization of an international and interdisciplinary scientific conference organized in France. This conference – dedicated to the unintended effects of alternative crop protection techniques – was open to participants from around the world.
We, the organizers, quickly noted the impossibility of ignoring the international political context in which scientific research takes place… an unintentional effect of organizing a conference on unintentional effects. Four situations presented themselves, each very different, all mirroring the world in 2026.
The first challenge, undoubtedly the most difficult, appeared when some of us wanted to invite an Israeli researcher. Her field of research, and the expertise of this renowned scientist, left no doubt as to the scientific relevance of this choice. However, in the face of War on Gaza which was bogged down in an infernal spiral of destruction, death and despair, a question arose: what could be the indirect effects of inviting a researcher from a country at war whose leader is being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity?
Our meeting was funded by a French research institute and we were prepared to spend public funds to invite an employee of an Israeli state organization. Was it really wise? Of course, we all agreed that it was essential not to base our judgment on the actions and personal ideas of this colleague. It was simply not our place to judge them. But we had to take into account the indirect effects of such collaboration. The role of scientific soft power in international relations is well established. Our decision to invite or not our Israeli colleague would have repercussions, let us be modest
