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The Academy of International Affairs NRW, based in the federal city of Bonn, is dedicated to the global challenges and structural changes in international politics in the 21st century. The Academy’s fellowship programme focuses on promoting academic excellence and international and interdisciplinary networking.
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Autocracy On the Rise – Can Cities Save Democracy?
Cities play a crucial role in building and maintaining democratic attitudes and processes. In response to increasing political paralysis, ideological deadlock or illiberal practices at the national level, mayors across Europe have formed regional policy and city networks to support each other in their efforts in areas such as climate protection and sustainable economic development, public health and migration. During the evening panel discussions, we will discuss democratic innovation as a topic of city diplomacy: How can we preserve democracy and open societies in the face of anti-democratic authoritarian actors? How can we build trust in democracy from the local level upwards? How can we exchange best practices and successful innovations in the field of democracy and participation across Europe and even worldwide, and learn from each other?
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Science Dialogue Day
Together with the Managing Global Governance (MGG) program of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), we look forward to the third edition of Science Dialogue Day. Across NRW, a growing number of research, training, and policy-oriented institutions have established academies and capacity-building initiatives to prepare young professionals and emerging leaders for global challenges. These programmes share a belief in the power of dialogue, peer learning, and evidence-based leadership development to advance the 2030 Agenda and foster just, inclusive, and sustainable societies. The Science Dialogue Day is a collaborative format initiated by the MGG Programme to strengthen exchange and cooperation among leadership academies and training programmes in NRW that are committed to sustainable development and international cooperation. Following the successful first Dialogue Day on “Strategies for Diversity and Inclusion” held at IDOS in 2024, this second in presence edition will deepen the exchange by focusing on two interrelated dimensions: first, understanding the rationales and evolving mandates of leadership programmes, and second, exploring how to conceptualise and assess their impact.
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South Korean Soft Power and Beyond. Lessons from the Korean Wave for Cultural Diplomacy
The role of culture for the prestige and relative status of countries is well-known. While that kind of soft power remains difficult to measure in terms of its actual influence on international politics, cultural diplomacy is an established instrument of states’ foreign policy. The dominance of Western culture has long been contested, as Indian cinema, Japanese kawaii culture and the Korean Wave, to name but a few, have gained traction, not only in Asia but also in other parts of the world, including the West. This has boosted the visibility of some key states and elevated their global status. With the return of the Korean mega group BTS to the stage in the near future, for example, another economic boost is expected, and South Korea is projected to experience gains in tourism and investment. Thus is has notably benefitted from its soft power. Studying select cases such as South Korea and as well as discussing insights from culture diplomacy actors of European countries like Germany and Great Britain and others, the experts at this event will debate the potential of cultural diplomacy in influencing foreign policy and draw on the idea of soft power to explore strategies for the future. The experts include Dr Dongho Han (Korea Institute for National Unification, Seoul), who will talk about the role of public diplomacy regarding Korean reunification, Dr Natalia Grincheva (Lasalle University, Singapore), who will present her data that forecasts the impact of the Korean Wave, and many other experts in the field of soft power and cultural diplomacy. From data-based projections of soft power to traditional approaches of cultural diplomacy, the lessons that can be learned have interesting implications for diplomacy and foreign policy more generally. The event is open to students, academics, policymakers, cultural and economic stakeholders, and the wider public interested in contemporary approaches to soft power and culture politics. Programme
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National Soft Power: Policy, Strategy and Measurement
On 12 November, AIA Fellow Stuart MacDonald organizes a workshop for academics and practitioners, examining the state of soft power in 2025. Drawing on findings from a recent comprehensive comparative study of 24 countries and the EU, and the unique empirical data generated for the research, the event will advance both theoretical understanding and practical application of soft power trends, mechanisms, and impacts in the current international context. There will also be a focus on innovative methodologies for measuring the impact of soft power activities. The workshop will be an opportunity for participants to feedback on both the current state of play and on the uses of data-led approaches to measuring the impact of this crucial area of international relations.
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International Security Forum Bonn 2025
This year’s International Security Forum Bonn (ISFB) brings together top experts and practitioners to tackle pressing questions about transatlantic relations and the future of European security. Under the patronage of Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs and Media and Head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia, the forum—organized by CASSIS with partners like AIA NRW and the Institut Français NRW—will run from October 29–31. Highlights include high-level discussions on “Ruptures Waiting for Responses” and a Bonn Future Lab exploring the security, economic, and governance dimensions of space. The event blends expert panels with hands-on workshops, aiming to generate forward-looking strategies for Europe and Germany.
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From Research to Diplomacy: The Future of Transatlantic Engagement in Space
Space exploration has been a global endeavor since its inception in the 1950s. Since this time, incredible progress has been made through international – and especially transatlantic – partnerships. Europe has contributed to signature Astrophysics programs such as Hubble, Gamma Ray Observatory, and also launched the James Webb Space Telescope. NASA’s Orion spacecraft has circumnavigated the Moon, powered by the European Service Module. Perhaps no contribution has been greater than the international Space Station, in which the transatlantic partnership between NASA and ESA plays a leading role. The coming retirement of the ISS and the rise of commercial space stations, the future of Artemis, and our ability to continue exploring the Cosmos all depend strongly on the continuation and enrichment of these partnerships. This discussion will focus on the future opportunities and challenges in the landscape of transatlantic partnerships in space. We are looking forward to a keynote speech by Professor John Horack followed by a discussion with Dr. Raúl González Muñoz hosted by journalist Martin Wein.
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AIA at the UN-Day in Bonn
The city of Bonn is hosting its annual United Nations Day on Saturday, October 11, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Bonn’s market square. Not only will the work of the United Nations be presented here, but many organizations, clubs, and associations from the international community in Bonn will also introduce themselves. Since 1996, Bonn has celebrated United Nations Day every October to commemorate the ratification of the UN Charter on October 24, 1945. At this event on Bonn’s market square, numerous UN organizations based in the city, as well as other associations and groups, will present themselves in a tent city and provide information on a common theme, which since 2015 has focused on the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to presentations and information stands, there will be a colorful stage program for the whole family, bringing the work of the UN in Bonn closer to the people. Once again this year, AIA NRW will be represented with a booth where we will provide information about our work. Come visit us, we look forward to talking with you! You can find us here (tent 7):
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Breaking Big-Tech’s Chains: Transatlantic Collaboration to Build University-Linked Innovation Ecosystems
A challenge for most all advanced democracies including Canada, UK, Germany and the rest of Europe is to jump-start a more dynamic high-growth and high-tech economy, flagged as a top priority for Europe by 2024’s Draghi report. This task became doubly urgent when the US–under the new Trump Administration–began an international economic order- upending mercantilist policy, alongside demands that US tech companies have unfettered access to the EU and other markets. The nurturing of robust innovation ecosystems in former industrial capitals like Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and manufacturing states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina in the US demonstrate dynamic, innovation ecosystems aren’t confined to Silicon Valley, but can be purposefully built. Innovation leaders and ecosystem builders in the US, Canada, UK and Europe have much to share other in terms of essential building blocks, strategies, practices and policies that help drive this dynamic, as well as much learn as well. Join a transatlantic discussion with select University and business innovation leaders to share insights into how to effectively do this work, and discuss avenues to further learn and assist each other.
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Peace with or Protection from Russia? Rethinking Europe’s Security after Ukraine
In its fourth year, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine remains one of the central security challenges of our time. Donald Trump’s rapprochement with Russia has fundamentally changed the starting position for possible negotiations on a ceasefire or peace agreement. Key Russian demands, such as territorial concessions and the exclusion of a Ukrainian NATO membership, are already under consideration in parts of the Western debate. Ukraine has been clear, however, that such issues will never be agreed by external actors and can only be discussed directly between Ukraine and Russia. This poses difficult challenges not only for Ukraine, but also for European states, especially as it remains unclear whether the EU will be involved in future negotiations formats at all. The outcome of these talks is likely to permanently alter Europe’s security architecture. The consequences are difficult to foresee, particularly for the EU’s eastern member states that directly border the Russian zone of influence. If the transatlantic partnership continues to weaken, how can the EU guarantee protection from Russian expansionism? What role can and should it play in shaping an independent European security framework—not only against Russia, but potentially with Russia in the longer term? Finally, what message will the outcome of this war send for other geopolitical conflicts? The stakes go far beyond Ukraine, touching the future of international order and Europe’s global role in it. The event is part of the Bonn Symposium organised by the Development and Peace Foundation (sef).
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To Be or Not To Be Tokenized? Unpacking the Performative Nature of Meaningful Youth Participation
This workshop examines how tokenism can appear in youth engagement and inclusion efforts, and explores ways to foster genuine participation. It includes concept framing, real-life examples, research insights, personal experiences, and group discussions. Participants will reflect on subtle and systemic forms of tokenism and contribute to the development of a Meaningful Youth Engagement Charter/Checklist. The session provides space for reflection and dialogue, connecting to ongoing research at AIA NRW on youth perspectives in migration policy. Insights may inform future discussions and publications on youth engagement. This workshop is orgnaized by our Fellow Chisomo Banda in cooperation with Ruhrpott for Europe, a youth-led organization in NRW working to empower young people in the Ruhr region to actively shape the future of Europe. In cooperation with: Info: Chisomo Banda Fellow AIA NRW Profile
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City Clusters in China-Germany Subnational Diplomacy
This paper offers a new framework for understanding China-Germany sister-city diplomacy through the lens of city cluster logic, enabling subnational actors to navigate complex institutional structures and networked partnerships more strategically. Drawing upon a comprehensive policy analysis and a series of 68 interviews conducted in Germany and China between 2022 and 2025, this study illuminates …
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Masculine hierarchies in migrant homosocial workspaces: dominating and subordinating masculinities of Tajik labour migrants in Russia
This article analyzes how masculinity practices transform in homosocial workspaces of labour migrants. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in Russia and Tajikistan, the article scrutinises the experiences of Tajik migrant men who work in the largely informal construction sector in Russia. Their interactions are thus embedded in this country’s capitalist system, as well as ist migration …
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Tradition, State, and Justice: Rethinking Statehood through Hybrid Governance in Nigeria and Pakistan
Hybrid governance in Nigeria and Pakistan has not only persisted as a legacy of colonial state formation but has also evolved into a complex system of shared authority between state institutions and traditional, religious, and community actors. This evolution reflects a qualitative shift toward negotiated governance, where Emirs, Obas, vigilante groups and jirgas play central …
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Understanding Cultural Diplomacy and International Cultural Relations
The book analyzes the role of culture as an instrument of international politics and transnational understanding. It focuses on the theoretical foundations and practical forms of cultural diplomacy as distinct from international cultural relations. It examines the use of cultural means in the context of soft power and the significance of state and non-state actors. …
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How the United States’ and Germany’s Politics Got Upended
The most recent national elections in two of the world’s leading economic powers and democratic stalwarts—Germany and the US—saw ethnonationalist parties closing in on taking power. The recent rapid rise in support for Germany’s radical right AfD party; and the success of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement now threaten to bring the institutional pillars and norms …
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Débora Prado
A Comparative Analysis of the International Actions of Subnational Governments in Brazil and Germany
This project examines how regional governments in Brazil and Germany engage internationally and why their actions matter for global debates. It focuses on two key areas: the global COVID-19 pandemic and environmental diplomacy. The study explores how subnational actors build partnerships, influence policy, and expand their presence beyond national borders, highlighting the growing relevance of subnational diplomacy in International Relations.
Impulse
The Academy’s new video format
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From Beijing to Shanghai: Inside a 5-City Urban Diplomacy Field Trip
After three weeks of fieldwork across Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai, Anna Shpakovskaya explored how…
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Democratic Resilience in an Age of Crisis
According to the 2024 Varieties of Democracy report, there are now 91 autocracies and 88 democracies…
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The Power of National Dialogues
In a world frequently marked by political upheaval and conflict, national dialogues have emerged as vital…
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China’s investment in Africa – between myths and challenges
China’s investment in Africa has sparked debate, driving economic growth while raising concerns about debt dependency…
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