Spotlight on Nationalism, Security, and Scientific Autonomy

This Spotlight examines how state power increasingly shapes digital security, public health, journalism, scientific publishing, and global economic strategy. From large-scale cyberespionage and visa-based retaliation after political violence to the weakening of public health institutions and new restrictions on research based on open health data, the collection highlights how national interests can reshape the infrastructures that support democratic life and scientific credibility. It also considers the role of scientists in defending democratic norms and the use of tariffs as instruments of geopolitical competition. Together, these contributions reveal a shared tension between state control and institutional independence, showing that security, governance, and knowledge production are now deeply entangled. In doing so, this collection reflects JOSHA’s editorial curation of timely debates at the intersection of politics, science, and public trust.