Global struggle for Small Modular Reactors and the challenges for Argentine technodiplomacy

Abstract

The world is going through a complex energy and possibly power transition context, where the search for political and technological agreements to curb global warming is mired in techno-economic and commercial competition between the United States and China. At the same time, the international system is experiencing conflicts that destabilize the order led by the American power. In this context, nuclear technology regains prominence from its war and civilian facets. As regards the first dimension, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the increase of several atomic arsenals put the possibility of a new arms race back on the agenda. Regarding the second, nuclear energy is once again positioning itself as a viable and clean alternative to guarantee the goals of the energy transition, especially since the manufacture and commercialization of Small Modular Reactors, where there is also great geopolitical and commercial competition between the United States, Europe, China, and Russia. Bringing the dimensions of science and technology closer to international studies, this article seeks to present research results that show the strong intertwining of both dimensions to understand the current global dynamics and the consequences for the developing world.