In this rich conversation with Professors Davide Rodogno and Carloyn Biltoft, we delve into a world of meaning making and examine the depth and breadth that history offers for policymaking. Davide Rodogno is professor of International History and Politics and the Head of the Interdisciplinary Master Programme at the Graduate Institute of Internatio…

Founder and Executive Director of Diplo Foundation, Dr. Jovan Kurbalija, takes us on a journey from the past to the present and across civilizations to explore the interplay of technology and diplomacy. Diplomacy and technology are at the heart of Diplo’s mission. Dr. Kurbalija emphasizes the importance of writing as a diplomatic tool and begins by…

We invited Itonde Kakoma, the new President and CEO of Interpeace, to talk about the mission of Interpeace – an organization that had its origins in the UN and works to prevent violence and build lasting peace. Interpeace has over 30 years of experience working in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America. In this conversation with th…

A conversation with Under-Secretary-General Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of UNECE The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five Regional Commissions of the United Nations. ECE was set up in 1947 to promote pan-European economic integration. Francesco Pisano met with UNECE’s new Executive Secretary, Ms. Tatiana…

Will we have a breakthrough or a breakdown? In this second episode with Adam Day, Head of the Geneva Office of the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, we continue the exploration of the Six Transformative Shifts proposed by the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism for a more secure and sustainable future. Adam Da…

In this and the following episode, we take a deep dive with Adam Day, Head of the Geneva Office of the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, into the Six Transformative Shifts proposed by the High-Level Advisory Board (HLAB) on Effective Multilateralism for a more secure and sustainable future. Here, in part 1, Adam Day talks with F…

We are starting our 2024 series with an episode with H.E. Mrs. Claudia Fuentes Julio, Permanent Representative of Chile. Ambassador Fuentes Julio talks about her interesting career path into diplomacy and representing her country. She tells us about the geography of Chile, bounded between the magnificent Andes and the vast Pacific Ocean, and she re…

In this end of year episode, Francesco Pisano, Director of the Library & Archives and senior managers Sigrun Habermann and Blandine Blukacz-Louisfert, find themselves on the other side of the table to talk about why knowledge matters in our times, whether libraries matter, what expertise we need and what digitization, technology and AI can mean for…

A conversation with Ambassador Matthew Wilson As part of our ambassadors’ series, for this episode we invited the Permanent Representative of Barbados, Ambassador Matthew Wilson, to explore the role of Barbados in the Caribbean region and in the world today, and its enduring partnership with the UN over 40 years. Ambassador Wilson talks with France…

Le Monde d’ici commence ailleurs : coopérations utiles pour des temps compliqués Pour cet épisode, nous sommes ravis d’accueillir Isabelle Durant, ancienne Secrétaire générale adjointe de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur le Commerce et le Développement (CNUCED). Isabelle Durant est une femme politique belge, membre du parti Ecolo qu'elle dirigea…

Futures of multilateralism – an applied research project on the challenge of transforming the global order In this episode, three young researchers from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Simfora Bangasimbo, Karim Achy, Sohini Chakrabarti talk about their applied research project on Futures of Multilateralism. The UN Office at Geneva and the Graduat…

A conversation with Swiss Youth Representative, Flora Chiper This episode with Flora Chiper, Swiss UN Youth Representative for 2023-2025, explores the role of Youth Representatives and their current work, vision and hopes for multilateralism. Flora Chiper is multicultural and multilingual and brings a scientific perspective to the team of Swiss you…

A conversation with Ambassador Dušan Matulay This episode is part of our ambassadors’ series hosting Permanent Representatives of UN Member States in Geneva for conversations about the role of their countries in the UN and in the world. We invited the Permanent Representative of Slovakia, H.E. Mr. Dušan Matulay, on the occasion of the 30th annivers…

In this episode we continue our explorations in view of the Summit of the Future. The Summit of the Future (in 2024) will be a key moment to reaffirm and recommit to effective multilateralism in the interest of both people and the planet. But how do we set out to redesign multilateralism and craft the future we all want in our era of ultra-rapid te…

Our ambassadors’ series hosts Permanent Representatives of UN Member States for conversations about the role of their countries in the UN and in the world. In this episode we invited the Permanent Representative of Germany, Ambassador Dr. Katharina Stasch, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Germany’s membership in the UN. In 1973 there were…

Corinne Momal-Vanian is the Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation. Previously, she worked in various senior positions and a variety of countries for the United Nations, most recently as Director of Conference Management at the United Nations Office at Geneva (2015-2020) and Director of Information (2010-2015). We invited Corinne Momal-Van…

Marcel Griaule, un ethnographe dans la diplomatie de l’entre-deux-guerres avec Yves Pourcher Pour cet épisode, nous sommes ravis d’accueillir Yves Pourcher pour parler de Marcel Griaule, un anthropologue, explorateur et écrivain au destin particulier notamment parce qu’il est entré dans la diplomatie lors de la crise d'Abyssinie. Yves Pourcher, pro…

In this episode, Davide Rodogno introduces his book Night on Earth, an account of international humanitarian programmes in Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Near East in the interwar period from 1918 to 1930. Professor Rodogno explains how concepts of international 'relief' and 'development' were deeply connected long before the exis…

We invited Dr. Rebecca Adami, Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer at Stockholm University, Award winner of the 2022 Bertha Lutz Prize for highest quality public writing and research on women in diplomacy by the Diplomatic Studies Section (DPLST) of the International Studies Association (ISA), for a conversation around the role non-Western women ha…

Nous continuons notre série en lien avec le rapport du Secrétaire-général Notre programme commun, le Sommet pour les ODD, et le Sommet de l’avenir avec un épisode qui souligne l’importance de mettre l’égalité des genres au cœur de l’architecture multilatérale. Pour cet épisode, nous avons invité Marie-Cécile Naves, Directrice de recherche et Direct…

In this episode, we met with Richard Gowan, UN Director at International Crisis Group (ICG) to get his perspective on current issues and trends in multilateralism. He shared his thoughts on reasons for optimism and pessimism about the way multilateralism is functioning, the ways in which it is evolving and the values on which it stands. We also tal…

In this episode we explore a recent report of the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism - A Breakthrough for People and Planet: Effective and Inclusive Global Governance for Today and the Future (United Nations University, 2023) - which offers a pathway to revitalize the multilateral system in view of the Summit of the Future. The …

UN Assistant Secretary-General Nikhil Seth, Executive Director of UNITAR, joined Francesco Pisano for a conversation about knowledge and learning for multilateralism in this 60th anniversary year of UNITAR. UNITAR was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1963 and started operating in March 1965.The Institute originally had its headquar…

Re-imagining International Relations - A conversation with Amitav Acharya Taking as a starting point that today’s multilateralism is in urgent need of an upgrade, Library & Archives Director, Francesco Pisano talks with Professor Amitav Acharya about how Global International Relations could broaden the Eurocentric way concepts and ideas in internat…

Inside the Human Rights Council – a conversation with Ambassador Federico Villegas, 16th President of the Human Rights Council Human rights are a burning issue at the centre of the international arena because they are fundamental to humankind. The interpretation and respect of human rights and the response to their violations depend on discussions …