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Panel Discussion

80 Years of North Rhine-Westphalia: From Industrial Powerhouse to Strategic Player in Tomorrow’s Security Architecture

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Podiumsdiskussion

Rearmament and Zeitenwende. Major Shifts in German Security Policy

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Global Policy Dialogue

Exchange about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine

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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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Panel Discussion

80 Years of North Rhine-Westphalia: From Industrial Powerhouse to Strategic Player in Tomorrow’s Security Architecture

For 80 years, North Rhine-Westphalia has been synonymous with transformation and creative drive. From Germany’s industrial heartland, the state has evolved into a central hub for innovation, technology, and economic networking in Europe. Today, more than ever, the question arises as to what role North Rhine-Westphalia can and must play in a world marked by growing geopolitical tensions and profound upheavals. Security has long been viewed in a comprehensive manner: it encompasses economic strength, technological sovereignty, resilient supply chains, and the protection of critical infrastructure, as well as social cohesion. North Rhine-Westphalia offers unique advantages in this regard: as an industrial hub, a driver of innovation, and an internationally connected economic region.Together with our distinguished guests—Minister Mona Neubaur, Parliamentary State Secretary Sebastian Hartmann, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee Armin Laschet, and Armin Papperger of Rheinmetall—we aim to discuss how North Rhine-Westphalia can strategically leverage its strengths to become a key player in the security architecture of tomorrow. The focus is on three key questions:How can North Rhine-Westphalia leverage its industrial and technological base in a targeted manner to support a comprehensive security strategy?What policy and economic decisions are needed to strengthen resilience and capacity to act in a sustainable manner?What role can and should North Rhine-Westphalia play in the security architecture of the future at the national and international levels?

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Panel Discussion

Rearmament and Zeitenwende: Major Shifts in German Security Policy

German security policy has repeatedly faced profound upheavals—from the rearmament of the young Federal Republic under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to the current “turning point,” which calls for a fundamental redefinition of military capabilities, international responsibility, and strategic partnerships. But how can these historical and current turning points be understood in relation to one another? What continuities and breaks have shaped Germany’s security policy course since Adenauer? And how are new geopolitical realities changing the foundations of German foreign and security policy? This event is part of a series marking the 150th anniversary of Konrad Adenauer’s birth.

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Panel Discussion

From the Arctic to the Strait of Hormuz: Geopolitics Between Climate Change and Global Realignment

Climate change is not only altering ecosystems but also shifting geopolitical power dynamics. Melting polar ice caps are opening up new trade routes and access to resources in the Arctic, while strategically significant regions such as the Strait of Hormuz are increasingly caught in the crossfire of global interests. At the very least, the discussion surrounding President Trump’s intention to buy Greenland has shown how the Arctic is currently also being used as a projection screen for global power shifts. And the latest developments in the Middle East have once again highlighted just how great the interdependencies in the global economy still are. We want to discuss the interplay of energy issues, security interests, and economic interdependencies—and what this means for the realignment of international relations—with renowned experts. What geopolitical opportunities and risks arise from climate change? What role do energy, resources, and trade routes play in a changing world order? How can international cooperation succeed amid increasing tensions?

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Workshop

Rising tensions in the Arctic: issue-linkages evolution and consequences on cooperation

The Arctic region is not immune to the major structural transformations affecting the global order : the erosion of multilateralism, the belittling of international law, the territorial expansionism and the securitization of strategic resources. Three sectors are particularly concerned by these changes: the defense, critical materials and  environmental sectors. Indeed, the Greenlandic moment reshapes Arctic security dynamics and put to a test the transatlantic relations in an unprecedented way. Furthermore, the access to critical materials necessitated by the green transition and strategic purposes challenges the strength of international cooperation and the implementation of public policies. Finally, rising tensions in the Arctic raises questions about the extent to which the prioritisation of security and strategic agendas affects cooperative processes related to environmental protection and sustainable growth. This workshop examines how structural transformations in the Arctic reshape issue-linkages, such as a commodification of defence, green securitization, and selective environmental (de)-securitization. Discussions will be organised into three panels aimed at identifying the challenges these dynamics pose for international affairs and governance.

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Webinar

Paradiplomacy in Crisis Contexts

As geopolitical uncertainties and global challenges intensify, subnational actors have increasingly emerged as essential players in responding to these crises. This webinar, held in cooperation with the Paradiplomacy Scholars Forum, explores how cities and regions manage diplomacy under pressure, examining the mechanisms through which these entities function as agile and adaptive infrastructures of governance across the Global South and Global North. By integrating a diverse range of empirical cases, such as international city networks, transatlantic relations, subnational management of global health emergencies, and climate governance in volatile borderlands, the event highlights how paradiplomatic practices are recalibrated in times of uncertainty to serve as vital tools for survival and cooperation.

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Global Policy Dialogues

“Unsere Menschen sind nicht frei!” Churches and Pluralistic Diplomacy in the Struggle for an Independent Namibia (1946-1990)

In this lecture, David Brandon Smith will present the results of an ongoing research project on the role of the churches in Namibia’s struggle for independence and consider new avenues for research on ‘pluralistic diplomacy’ – an interdisciplinary approach built upon the recognition that nation-states and intergovernmental organizations are not the only actors that shape world affairs. As the largest non-governmental institutions in Namibia, churches were both prime movers in the struggle and epicenters of conflict about it throughout the apartheid era. This is, perhaps, to be expected in a country where 90% of the population claims a Christian identity. While not all Christians and church organizations reacted to the independence struggle in the same way, church leaders began advocating for a degree of political and ecclesiastical independence as early as the mid-1940s. In 1978, the largest and most demographically representative churches formally established the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN). While much of the political leadership of the independence movement was in exile, the CCN and its member churches emerged as the prime movers toward independence within Namibia. Around the world, ecumenical organizations like the World Council of Churches and its Programme to Combat Racism (WCC-PCR), along with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), served as essential contacts for governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental activities in and related to Namibia. While some church groups either supported or did not actively oppose apartheid and occupation, others took as many opportunities as possible to declare to anyone who would listen on behalf of the people they served, “Unsere menschen sind nicht frei” (“Our people are not free”)!

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Webinar

Brazilian Paradiplomacy: Historical Trajectories, Institutions, and Case Studies

The Academy of International Affairs NRW, in cooperation with the Paradiplomacy Scholars Forum, will host an online seminar on Brazilian paradiplomacy. The event brings together leading scholars to examine the historical development, legal-institutional consolidation and contemporary challenges of subnational international action in Brazil. The discussion will address federal dynamics, regional asymmetries and political crisis contexts, while also reflecting on how paradiplomacy engages with global agendas such as sustainability, the Amazon, gender equity, migration and the SDGs. Herewith, we would like to thank Katja Freistein, Manuel Becker, Joanna Ciesielska-Klikowska and Tomasz Kamiński for their support in preparing and organising the webinar.

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Panel Discussion

German Colonialism and its first Genocide

As Europe rethinks its foreign policy amidst shifting global political relations, one question remains central: Can cooperation succeed without confronting colonial history? This panel takes Germany’s first genocide of the 20th century in Namibia as a starting point to explore how colonial legacies continue to shape today’s global crises, from geopolitics and inequality to diplomacy and democracy. What does the “past in the present” mean for justice claims and Europe’s future role in the world? With experts Henning Melber, Katharina Hacker, and Julia Manek, moderated by Heloise Weber, the discussion will connect postcolonial perspectives with today’s political challenges, including the rise of authoritarian populism as well as transnational efforts aimed at building relations of solidarity and ‘just repair’ Join the conversation and be part of a critical debate on history, responsibility, and the future of international cooperation. In cooperation with:

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Conference

European Regions and the Future of Europe’s Soft Power

The Academy of International Affairs North Rhine-Westphalia, in partnership with the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union, invites policymakers, practitioners and researchers to a workshop examining the role of European regions in strengthening the Union’s soft power and cultural diplomacy. The event takes place at the NRW Representation in Brussels, against the backdrop of the European Commission’s ongoing work to integrate the 2016 Joint Communication on international cultural relations within the broader Culture Compass for Europe. The workshop addresses four interconnected themes: the distinctive contributions that regional actors can make to European external relations; the soft power dimensions of higher education and science diplomacy; the evolving role of national institutes of culture and arm’s length bodies; and the implications of AI and digital transformation for public diplomacy practice. Structured panel discussions and plenary debate will consider how multi-level governance might be harnessed more effectively to build European influence and resilience in a contested international environment. An evening programme will provide opportunities for informal exchange. Further information are available from Stuart MacDonald, AIA NRW Fellow. Programme

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Workshop

Heritage Across Borders: Translocal Diaspora Networks and Pathways to Inclusive Peace

In the era defined by geopolitical uncertainties, long-standing conflicts, and mounting pressure on liberal democratic standards, the diaspora and translocal groups have become the key players in peacebuilding and cross-border collaboration. This shifting global landscape underscores the need to examine peace formation beyond formal diplomacy, drawing attention to the informal, affective, and translocal infrastructures constructed by ordinary people, mobile communities, and diasporic actors across regions. This workshop examines the mechanisms through which such communities function as agile, adaptive peace infrastructures through which pilgrimage paths, pastoral migration pathways and migrant memory networks are transformed as reconciliation platforms across South Asia, West Africa and Europe. By drawing together cases spanning the Global South and Global North, the workshop highlights how peace imaginaries and mobility practices circulate trans-regionally, generating new forms of interconnected governance and solidarity. The workshop explores the identities-in-motion approach as a framework for recalibrating borders, fostering constructive dialogue, and enabling comparative analysis through inclusive peace strategies. It does so by examining cases such as the Kartarpur Corridor with its distinct translocal resonance, Fulani mobility systems in the Lake Chad Basin, Turkish-German integration pathways, and Syrian diaspora settlement processes.

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Publications

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Discussion PaperStuart MacDonald

Strategic Coherence and Distributed Influence

This paper contributes to the European Commission’s review of its 2016 Joint Communication on international cultural relations. Drawing on a comparative study of soft power governance across twenty-five jurisdictions (British Council, 2026), which applies an Assets-Infrastructure-Outcomes framework, and on a practitioner-academic workshop convened in Brussels in March 2026, it argues that the review requires a …

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Discussion PaperAhyousha KhanSummar Iqbal Babar

Reconfiguring European Security

The European security environment has undergone significant transformation following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, particularly amid rising uncertainty over the credibility of US security commitments. This paper examines the drivers of Europe’s current security dilemma—marked by Russian coercion and doubts about US commitment—and explores possible pathways to strengthen European security. As an answer, we propose …

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Policy BriefStuart MacDonald

Beyond Culture – Rethinking the EU’s Approach to Soft Power in a Turbulent World

The European Union is beginning a review of its 2016 Joint Communication on international cultural relations. This policy brief argues that the review presents an opportunity to reconceive the scope and purpose of EU-level coordination of international engagement. Drawing on a 25-jurisdiction comparative study published by the British Council in March 2026 (the ‘Trends study’) …

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ArticleAlbert AhenkanSamuel Weniga Anuga

The EU Green Deal and Renewable Energy Transitions in Europe–Africa Relations: A Synthesis of Complexities and Geopolitics

The EU Green Deal (EGD) is transforming Europe–Africa relations by moving away from historical patterns of exploitation toward equitable collaboration in renewable energy. By fostering co-ownership and co-creation of clean energy technologies, the EGD aligns with Africa’s development goals, offering stable, low-carbon energy initiatives less vulnerable to market shocks. However, the rise of far-right political …

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Discussion PaperMelanie W. Sisson

Order and Ideology

Why the Trump Administration is Redefining American Power and Purpose This paper analyses the foreign policy orientation of the second Trump administration. It argues that this does not represent an attempt at reform, but rather a fundamental departure from the liberal international order that has existed since the Second World War. Contrary to initial assumptions, …

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Fellows

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Katja Velmans
International Relations

Cecile Pelaudeix

EU Energy Security and Structural Transformations: Greenland and Sweden Critical Raw Materials
EU policies to fight the existential threat of climate change, accelerate energy transition and ensure energy security can be met with fierce opposition captured by the phrase ‘not in my backyard’ or ‘green colonialism’. This project interrogates the political repercussions of critical material policies. The comparison of Sweden and Greenland assesses the conditions under which the implementation of EU policies is conducive to acceptance or is associated with resistance and political shift.

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Impulse

The Academy’s new video format