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DWE Die Academy of International Affairs NRW mit Sitz in der Bundesstadt Bonn widmet sich den globalen Herausforderungen und Strukturveränderungen der internationalen Politik im 21. Jahrhundert. Im Zentrum der Akademie steht mit einem Fellowship-Programm die Förderung wissenschaftlicher Exzellenz sowie die internationale und interdisziplinäre Vernetzung.
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Events
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The Sino-Russian alliance and the return of the power blocs: Mao and Stalin’s long shadows?
Western media often describe the relationship between Russia and China as a close friendship between two ‘autocracies’ against the ‘Western community of values’. Xi and Putin speak of a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ that aims to establish a ‘multipolar world order’. But who should be the poles in a post-American world order? Is there a threat of a new ‘Cold War’ with global bloc formation? How stable is the alliance between Moscow and Beijing really?
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Region meets international politics
The links between regional and urban history and international relations are manifold, but rarely obvious at first glance. Municipalities, regional self-government and (federal) states often did not and do not act exclusively in a national context. Their actions were and are closely intertwined with supranational and international problems and the repercussions of major political events.
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Infrastructure, AI and Europe’s Road to Digital Sovereignty
The intensifying techno-geopolitical competition between China and the US has exposed Europe’s vulnerability to digital dependencies.
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Event Report: Trump Reloaded –What would Ludwig Erhard say?
“Do not praise my merits from the past, but use my experience for the future.” This phrase concludes the memoirs of the second German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard, recorded by speechwriter Johnny Klein and edited by our Academic Board member Ulrich Schlie. Ludwig Erhard was granted this wish during a panel discussion on the consequences of Donald Trump’s second presidency for Europe and the world.
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Responsibility in Space
Outer space has emerged as a distinct arena of political and economic interactions that can benefit humankind. With rising commercial interest and the engagement of states, outer space has become a zone in need of regulation and of cooperative agreements to avoid severe risks. This also raises the central question of responsibility in different ways, such as accountability, appropriate behaviour and the consideration of future generations.
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Event Report: Responsibility in Space for Sustainability on Earth
As part of the United Nations World Space Forum in Bonn (3–6 December 2024), AIA NRW organised a side event titled “Responsibility in Space for Sustainability on Earth” on 2 December 2024. In his keynote address, ESA astronaut and astrophysicist Gerhard Thiele shared insights from his personal experiences in space travel. He reflected on his 1998 space mission, during which the Earth was geographically surveyed, and emphasised the central role of responsibility, particularly highlighting the importance of teamwork and communication, without which such a significant endeavour would not be possible.
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Event Report: Afghanistan at the Crossroads. 23 Years Afghanistan Conference – Challenges and Opportunities
The Academy has already organized various events and a Fellow research project on Afghanistan’s past, present and future. On the 23rd anniversary of the first Bonn Afghanistan Conference, a discussion with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta and Dr. Katja Mielke (Senior Researcher, Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies, BICC), moderated by AIA Director Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din, took place at a historically authentic location on the Petersberg in Bonn.
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Event Report: To the Moon and Back: Lunar Policy-making, Security, and Cooperation in Europe and Beyond
AIA Fellows Raul Gonzalez and Günes Ünüvar organized a workshop on the subject “To the Moon and Back: Lunar Policy-Making, Security, and Cooperation in Europe.” They brought together many distinguished experts from academia, policy, and industry to engage in critical discussions about the future of European lunar missions and the multifaceted challenges they present.
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Event Report: What Stakes Does Europe Have in the Indo-Pacific Region?
Together with the Korean embassy, the AIA NRW took the lead in organizing an Indo-Pacific conference in Düsseldorf. The Indo-Pacific region will take on greater geostrategic significance, not least in light of the election results in the US election campaign.
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Event Report: (Critical) Geopolitics, sustainability, and “global” spaces
IDOS and AIA convened an expert workshop to assess the dynamics of contemporary geopoliticization across a range of policy areas. Geopoliticization refers to the processes by which considerations of geographical space are prioritized in policymaking and, more fundamentally, denotes a shift to thinking of power in spatial—especially global—terms.
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Routledge Handbook on Global China
This innovative Routledge Handbook sheds light on the complex and transformative nature of Global China, prompting a re- evaluation of existing theories on global and regional dynamics. It encourages theoretical innovation, methodological reflection and analytical transformation, providing new avenues for critical engagement with China’s global interactions. The chapters propose three key commitments for the study …
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Sentiment Shifts and a New Approach to Strategic Narratives Analysis. Russian Rhetoric on Ukraine
How do countries’ strategic narratives (SNs) evolve during conflicts? Are changes in sentiment in diplomatic communication related to kinetic developments? This paper assesses Russian rhetoric toward Ukraine from 2004 to 2019 by qualitatively and quantitively analyzing nearly 3,000 statements by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this time, Russian identity narratives changed from projecting …
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The silence of religions in times of war
Silence is not empty, but full of answers and omnipresent in everyday social life: whether individual secrecy, situational looking away or systematically imposed silence – silence conveys messages and sends signals. Nevertheless, the phenomenon of silence tends to be researched along disciplinary traditions; a comparison and even a dialogue between the disciplines has been lacking …
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Strategic Identity Narratives Through Time
This paper illustrates how studying the evolution of strategic narratives – stories that states tell in their diplomatic communication to convince publics at home and abroad to frame their views and actions – can provide valuable insights into diplomatic developments. Rhetorical shifts often precede political shifts and can help identify opportunities to influence foreign policy. …
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Religion, War, and International Relations
How does the field of study of International Relations (IR) engage with questions of religion and war? This paper addresses the long neglect the field experienced in terms of including religion in its research agenda and presents the increase of interest and approaches which has emerged in the last two decades. By including work from …
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Chelsea Haramia
Dr. Haramia’s research focuses on global planning for post-detection scenarios, i.e., scenarios that humans may face following a successful detection of extraterrestrial life or technology in outer space. Gauging public attitudes towards candidate global actions is fundamental for ethical questions of global consent. Informed consent, when it is possible to obtain, is arguably critical for morally appropriate representation and risk taking. Thus, consent regarding risk and representation is a crucial area of targeted analysis in current post-detection research. Dr. Haramia’s work underscores the need to navigate speculative discourse and promote ethical inquiry in order to leverage existing resources for effective preparedness.
Central to her research agenda is the exploration of methodologies for assessing public attitudes towards global risks and securing global consent for post-detection proposals. She outlines both theoretical and concrete strategies aimed at advancing research into post-detection. She poses pivotal questions to guide her investigation, delving into the necessity of current and future tools, policies, and interdisciplinary research frameworks for navigating potential contact with extraterrestrial entities. Additionally, she explores the potential of foresight studies training and AI-driven programs in bolstering global preparedness and representation, addressing concerns of overrepresentation, misrepresentation, inclusion, and others in planetary future planning endeavors.
Dr. Haramia’s work stems from a comprehensive overview of the historical context of post-detection research, tracing its origins from the early days of SETI science to the formulation of contemporary post-detection protocols.
Moreover, she underscores the crucially interdisciplinary nature of research in this field and emphasizes the value of collaborative initiatives. Her overarching goal is to develop defensible thresholds for informed consent and to explore avenues for globally-focused programs that will help to prepare humanity for a post-detection future.
Impulse
The Academy’s new video format
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Sub-national Diplomacy: Best Practices
Our Associate Fellow Vivek Anand shares his best practices in sub-national diplomacy.
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Outer Space Governance: Space Security, Regulation and Sustainability
Outer space technologies, including rockets, satellites, and their supporting infrastructure, are vital to modern societies. They…
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Exploring the Final Frontier: Space as an Environment and the Challenges Ahead
The vastness of space has always been a source of fascination, but as humanity’s reach expands…
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Exploring the Unknown: Dr. Chelsea Haramia on Planning for Post-Detection Scenarios
At AIA, Dr. Chelsea Haramia’s groundbreaking research focuses on preparing humanity for the profound moment when…
