How can Europe remain capable of acting in a world of growing geopolitical tensions without compromising its political and ethical principles? This key question was the focus of the panel discussion that opened the symposium marking the fifth anniversary of the Academy of International Affairs NRW. In front of an audience of nearly 100 people,…
To mark the fifth anniversary of the Academy of International Affairs NRW, a full-day symposium was held at the Grandhotel Steigenberger Petersberg in Königswinter to explore how Europe’s security needs to be rethought in the face of far-reaching geopolitical changes. The focus was on a comprehensive concept of security that goes beyond traditional military and…
On 17 September 2026, the UN Security Council held an Arria-formula meeting on freedom of navigation and maritime security. Chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the debate explored how the UN can better address maritime security challenges and ensure safe sea lanes. AIA Fellow Prof. Dr. Christian Bueger was…
On 15 September, International Day of Democracy, a public panel discussion was held under the title ‘Comprehensive Security: Strategies for Resilience in Democracies. A Comparison of Germany and Switzerland’. The discussion centred on the question of how democracies can become more resilient in the face of growing security, economic and societal risks. It became clear…
Tuhinsubhra Giri explained the far-reaching impact of AI on the world of work. This relates not only to the threat of job losses, but above all to changes in the nature of work, skills, sectors and forms of employment. He believes that overall employment levels may remain stable, whilst at the same time undergoing very…
AIA Fellows Yi hyun Kang and Tuhinsubhra Giri took part in a webinar organised by the Kenya-based NGO African Centre for Technology Studies as part of the United Nations Climate Change PCCB Network, which focused on how National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) can be implemented through better science communication. Many countries already have National Climate Adaptation…
Reimagining Global Cooperation through Climate Finance in Sub-Saharan Africa AIA Fellow Fadzei Chipato presented her research project on the significance of climate finance for climate justice, trust, and international cooperation, with a particular focus on Southern Africa. The starting point is the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities” (CBDR): Industrialized countries bear greater responsibility for…
On August 29, the AIA NRW Academic Board held its selection meeting. Once again this year, the Academy received a large number of excellent applications. This year’s call for applications focused on the topic of “Comprehensive Security.” The number of applications received nearly doubled compared to last year. We would like to thank all our…
To mark the 80th anniversary of North Rhine-Westphalia, business leaders and North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Defense Sebastian Hartmann, Chairman of the German Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee Armin Laschet, and Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, discussed the state’s future role in the European security architecture.…
As part of the AIA Colloquium, Yi hyun Kang presented her latest observations on the use of artificial intelligence in the context of international climate diplomacy. She reported on her recently completed field research conducted during the 64th session of the subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC SB 64)…
Cécile Pelaudeix’s presentation at the AIA Colloquium addressed the growing importance of critical raw materials for the European Union and the policy challenges that arise from this. Due to geopolitical shifts, the energy transition, and the growing need for technology, demand for raw materials such as lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements…
Adiatu Aliru Abiodun deals extensively with the ambivalent role of European funding mechanisms in the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU). In his project presentation at the AIA Colloquium, he highlighted that the support instruments provided by the EU had on the one hand significantly contributed to supporting regional integration…
The academy was once again able to welcome a group of politically interested individuals from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Bonn office, for an exchange with the fellows. After a general introduction to the academy, the participants engaged in small group discussions on current global challenges. The basis for these discussions were the research projects of…
On Wednesday 17 June, Ryan Mulholland, a Senior Fellow at one of the US’s most renowned think tanks, the Centre for American Progress, visited the Academy for a discussion with AIA Fellows Ramya Vijaya, Filipe Mendonça, Anthony Acquah and Aliru Adiatu. The Fellows presented their various research interests. The discussion centred on political and social…
The Emile Durkheim Research Centre at the University of Bonn and the German Institute for Development and Sustainability (IDOS) organised an interdisciplinary conference on 12 and 13 June entitled “Climate Change as a Crisis of Nature?”. The timing of the event was deliberately chosen, as consultations are currently underway once again in Bonn to prepare…
To mark the end of her time as the first Early Career Researcher at the AIA NRW, Boyhun Kim presented the key arguments of her doctoral thesis, which she has just submitted to Ghent University in Belgium. She used the colloquium as an opportunity to practise her thesis defence in front of the fellows. Her…