Academy of International Affairs NRW
AIA is dedicated to the global challenges and through its Fellowship programme it promotes scientific excellence and builds international and interdisciplinary connections.
🌎 aia-nrw.org/en/
📍 Bonn, Germany
- AIA’s new discussion paper by Melanie W. Sisson argues U.S. foreign policy has shifted ideologically, not tactically: It frames this not just as a power shift, but a possible end of the liberal international order. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...
- 🕊️ Peacebuilding from the ground up – Kartarpur Corridor Dr. Summar Iqbal Babar (Quaid-i-Azam University & AIA Fellow) highlighted the Kartarpur Corridor as a people-centred model of peace diplomacy, rooted in shared memory, culture & faith. 🔗 Read more: www.aia-nrw.org/en/zef-publi...
- At the “Zeitenwende in the South Caucasus” in Berlin, our Director Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din met with Foreign Minister Wadephul and the Armenian & Azerbaijani Ambassadors, highlighting the region’s importance for Europe’s security and the role of dialogue in advancing peace.
- How do empires act today? In times of shifting global power, Prof. Eva Marlene Hausteiner showed why empires still matter—highlighting how power works not only through force, but through ideas and imperial mindsets shaping today’s conflicts. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- The Academy welcomes @undp.org’s expanded presence in Bonn, reinforcing the city’s role as a UN hub and centre for sustainable development. We see Bonn as a key partner for multilateral cooperation and look forward to contributing our expertise.
- 📘 New Research | by AIA Fellows Ifedayo Grace Malachi & Summar Iqbal Babar This study examines how traditional authorities in Nigeria and customary forums such as Jirgas in Pakistan operate as forms of sub-national diplomacy in fragile democratic contexts. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...
- ❗Anti-Colonial Struggles & the Politics of Organizing Structural Injustices Future Fellow 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗿 critiqued the Right to Development, challenging the link between modernization & social justice. Human rights, she argued, are not Western nor growth-dependent. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/anti-colo...
- 🚀 New Fellow: Débora Prado (Brazil) studies how regional governments in Brazil & Germany engage internationally—during COVID-19 and in environmental diplomacy—showing the rising impact of subnational diplomacy. 📍Currently in Bonn until March 2026. More: www.aia-nrw.org/en/fellow/de...
- 📄 New AIA Discussion Paper — many thanks to @Anna Shpakovskaya for this excellent work on China–Germany subnational diplomacy. 💡: city clusters shape sister-city ties; cluster logic enables strategic engagement; partnerships open access to wider regional networks. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...
- 🌐 Fellow Meet-Up: Building Community Together Alumni, current & incoming fellows connected online to discuss AI & share experiences. Highlights of the fellowship, shared: vibrant international environment, great offices, supportive culture. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/aia-fello...
- 🎥 New video with AIA Fellow Anna Shpakovskaya: What a 5-city field trip—from Beijing to Shanghai—reveals about China’s urban future, city clusters, AI-driven development, and shifting narratives from Xinjiang. Plus: what to expect from the 15th Five-Year Plan. 👇 www.aia-nrw.org/en/impulse/f...
- 🏢Can cities save democracy? At our AIA panel in Bonn, Sanja Bojanić, Helfried Carl, János Kendernay, and Theresa Reymann agreed: cities are key to democratic culture, but the real power lies with citizens, not cities. Mayor Ursula Sautter closed the event. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- 🤝Joined @idos-research.bsky.social , @daadworldwide.bsky.social, UNU-EHS, @unssc.bsky.social, @giz.de & NRW universities for Science Dialogue II. Key takeaways: clearer purpose, stronger impact thinking, more peer learning across NRW. Great energy, great network. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- 📢 Register here: Autocracy on the Rise – Can Cities Save Democracy? 📍 Bonn, 09.12.2025 | 18:30 When national politics stall, cities act. Join European urban leaders exploring how city diplomacy and democratic innovation can defend open societies. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/e/autocra...
- 🌐 Bonn Symposium 2025: Values, Weapons, Reality 🕊️ At Bonn City Hall, experts discussed Germany’s role in global peace and Europe’s security, building on AIA NRW’s webinar on “Peace with or Protection from Russia?” Thanks to sef: & partners for an inspiring finale. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- 📢 New AIA Paper by Malachi Ifedayo Grace & Summar Iqbal Babar: Examines hybrid governance in Nigeria & Pakistan, showing how traditional, religious & state institutions share authority. Focus: institutionalization, inclusion & accountability. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...
- 🎭 South Korean Soft Power & the Korean Wave 🇰🇷 AIA NRW & the Korean Embassy explored how K-Pop, BTS, K-Food & media shape diplomacy. Talks by Dong-ho Han, Natalia Grincheva, Hannes Mosler & Susanne Baumgart. Future of soft power with Stuart MacDonald & Brendan Howe 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- Event Invite | Autocracy on the Rise – Can Cities Save Democracy? 🌍 Cities are leading democratic innovation via diplomacy, participation & cross-border cooperation. Join the discussion on 📅 09.12, Bonn. Organized by @tamaraehs.bsky.social. 🔗Register: www.aia-nrw.org/en/e/autocra...
- Yesterday, the AIA team welcomed Norbert Röttgen, a leading voice in German & European foreign policy. We shared insights on the AIA Fellowship Programme and discussed its value for North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighting how international dialogue strengthens regional capacity & networks.
- 🇬🇧 New insights on soft power AIA Fellow Stuart MacDonald’s study across 25+ countries shows soft power can be measured. Experts highlighted AI, digital influence and a key takeaway — success depends less on budget and more on strategic coherence. 🔗More insights: www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- 🌍 72% of the world now lives under autocracy — not by coups, but by leaders eroding democracy from within. Political scientist @tamaraehs.bsky.social calls for democratic resilience: strengthening courts, media & cities as the front line of democracy. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/impulse/d...
- 🤝 Youth, Culture & Collaboration: Shaping the Future of Germany–Pakistan Relations We hosted a workshop led by AIA Fellow Summar Barbar, exploring how subnational diplomacy, youth engagement, academic cooperation, and cultural exchange can strengthen 🇩🇪–🇵🇰 ties. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/from-exch...
- Event Invitation – Registration Still Open! Join us on 13 Nov (13:00–18:30) at the Heinrich-Heine-Institut Düsseldorf for “Korean Soft Power and Beyond”. With Dr. Dongho Han and Dr. Natalia Grincheva among others. 🔗 Register: forms.office.com/e/bTQfWFwDRu 🔗More insights: www.aia-nrw.org/softpower
- AIA NRW @ ISFB 2025 – “Securing a Sustainable Space” 🚀 We hosted Europe’s Future in Space with State Secretary Paul Höller & PD Dr. Antje Nötzold. Our Director Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din: “Collaboration & innovation are key to a sustainable, responsible space future.” 🔗 aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- 👋 New Fellow: Stuart MacDonald Exploring how soft power works from national to city level — building on a British Council study of 24 countries plus the EU to develop new ways to measure soft power. Based in Bonn until March 2026. 🔗 More insights: www.aia-nrw.org/en/fellow/st...
- 🚨New AIA NRW Discussion Paper by Dr. Farid Karimi Nord Stream 2 shifted from a key part of Germany’s energy transition to a geopolitical misstep—deepening EU reliance on Russian gas, ignoring Eastern European security, and exposing governance gaps. Full paper: 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/de/publikati...
- AIA Fellow @jcaustin.bsky.social urges Germany to lead in defending democracy. His new paper (with Emily Adams & Maria Skora) links populism in the US & Europe to economic neglect and calls for inclusive growth. 🔗 Interview: www.aia-nrw.org/en/germany-m... 🔗 Paper: www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...
- 🤝 China’s mega cities are judged on more than growth — global partnerships matter too. From Bonn–Chengdu to Duisburg–Wuhan, Anna Shpakovskaya explores how city diplomacy bridges China and NRW 🇨🇳🇩🇪 🌍 Rethinking urban success across systems. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/city-clus...
- 📢 Event Invitation | Cultural Diplomacy & Soft Power 🌏 Join us on 13.11.2025, 13:00–18:30 at Heinrich-Heine-Institut Düsseldorf. Experts including Dr. Dongho Han & Dr. Natalia Grincheva will discuss how cultural diplomacy shapes global influence. 🔗 Registration: www.aia-nrw.org/en/e/south-k...
- The Academy in cooperation with AmerikaHaus NRW welcomed Prof. John Horack (Vice President for Research, Ohio State University) for a discussion with Raúl González Muñoz (University of Leicester) moderated by journalist Martin Wein. They remained optimistic about the future of space exploration. 🚀
- Thank you, Bonn! 🙏 | AIA NRW at UN Day Together with Fellows Mariia Levchenko, @jcaustin.bsky.social , Stuart MacDonald & Summar Iqbal Babar, we shared our mission, Fellowship programme, publications & events 🔗 Event report: www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- AIA Fellow @jcaustin.bsky.social brought together leaders from the US, Canada, UK & Europe to explore university-linked innovation ecosystems. Beyond Silicon Valley: regional hubs thrive through cross-border collaboration. Thanks to all participants! 🔗https://www.aia-nrw.org/BigTechChains
- 🛰️ As the ISS nears retirement, what’s next for transatlantic space cooperation? 🌍✨ Join us exploring the next era of #NASA–#ESA collaboration, from policy to diplomacy. 📅 14.11.2025 | 18:00–19:30 📍 AIA NRW, Rheinallee 24, Bonn 🎙️ Prof. John Horack & Dr. Raúl González Muñoz 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/space
- 🌐 Cities as Engines of Democracy 🏙️ @tamaraehs.bsky.social at the AIA Colloquium proposed “Democratic Development Goals” (#DDGs) to strengthen democracy, highlighting cities’ role and introducing the #ECoD initiative. 🙏 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/the-europ...
- 🇪🇺 Peace with or Protection from Russia? At the Bonn Symposium experts Mariia Levchenko, Dr. Christina Horváth-Stenner, & Col. Hennadiy Kovalenko discussed Europe’s security after Ukraine. 🔹 Gaps in defense & strategy 🔹 Ukraine’s key role 🔹 Peace = defense + mediation www.aia-nrw.org/ukraine_russia
- “Cooperation, dialogue, and strategic foresight are essential,” stated our director, Dr. Zein Al Din, joining high‑level talks at the MunSecconf.bsky.social Leaders Meeting in Al Ula on Middle Eastern security, energy, and peacebuilding. Thanks to benediktfranke.bsky.social for this forum. #MLMAlUla
- 📢 Join today | 12.30 h | webinar on "Peace with or Protection from Russia? Rethinking Europe’s Security after Ukraine" 🔗Register here to get direct access: www.sef-bonn.org/de/veranstal...
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- 🌍 Celebrate with us 80 Years United Nations with its annual UN Day on the market square in Bonn. We’re glad to be part of it again – find us at tent 7 and join the conversation on global cooperation. 🔗 More: www.aia-nrw.org/en/e/aia-at-...
- 🚀 From Hubble to Artemis, transatlantic partnerships have shaped space exploration. What’s next for Europe & the US in space? Join us at AIA NRW on 14.10. from 18.00h - 19.30h for a keynote by Prof. John Horack & a discussion with Dr. Raúl González Muñoz. 📝 Register: www.aia-nrw.org/space
- 🌍 Exciting news: The Academy of International Affairs NRW has selected the fellows for the 2026/27 program! 🙏 Thanks to our Academic Board members for their expertise and dedication! More insights: www.aia-nrw.org/en/academy/f...
- 🗣️ To Be or Not To Be Tokenized? AIA Fellow Chisomo Banda & Ruhrpott für Europa hosted a workshop on youth participation beyond tokenism. “Meaningful youth engagement is not symbolic, it is essential.” – Banda 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-rep...
- 🌐 120+ participants joined Christoph Heusgen and Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din in Bonn to discuss Europe’s role in security, democracy, and transatlantic relations. Thanks to AmerikaHaus NRW e.V. for making it possible. 🔗https://www.aia-nrw.org/en/event-report-a-changing-world-order/
- 📢 Webinar | Peace with or Protection from Russia? 📅 1 Oct | 12:30–13:30 Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues to reshape Europe’s security debate. Join the online event to discuss how Europe can rethink its security architecture. 🔗 Info & registration: www.aia-nrw.org/PeaceUkraine
- 🌍 AIA NRW @ EISA Pan-European Conference (Bologna, 25–29 Aug) Fellows Chiung-Chiu Huang and Anna Shpakovskaya with our colleague @ksailormoon.bsky.social joined panels on postcolonial relations, international hierarchies & critical IR. 🔗 More: www.aia-nrw.org/en/aia-nrw-p...
- "Tokenistic inclusion creates the illusion of voice without power; true participation requires structural change." – Chisomo Banda On 19 September, the AIA Fellow Workshop explores youth participation beyond tokenism and works towards shaping a Youth Engagement Charter. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/tokenism
- 📄 New AIA Policy Brief by Plé, Rohde & Frigerio: Embedding Urban & Subnational Diplomacy in Multi-Level Governance. Insights from the 2025 AIA Summer Academy: 🌐 Regions as key intermediaries 👥 Training & exchanges 🏢 Institutionalization & funding 🔗More insights: www.aia-nrw.org/en/publicati...
- “Europe’s unity and sovereignty are strengthened through regional partnerships. NRW, with its economic, cultural, and diplomatic initiatives, shows how cooperation with Greece advances shared European goals,” said Dr. Zein Al Din during a meeting with Consul General Vassilis Koinis.
- 👽 Contact with extraterrestrial life raises complex ethical questions: Who speaks for Earth? What risks do we accept? @chelseaharamia.bsky.social explains why global post-detection planning matters—and how the Dear E.T. Project connects science, art & culture. 🔗 www.aia-nrw.org/de/publikati...
- At the NRW summer reception of the consular corps in Bonn, our Director Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din joined nearly 100 consular representatives. She noted: "Minister-President Hendrik Wüst's leadership in strengthening international dialogue and partnership was a central highlight of the evening."
