Welcome to a special edition of the Geneva Graduate Institute’s In Conversation With podcast series. In this series, we’ll be exploring a range of critical issues shaping Africa’s future, with more episodes to come as we continue to dive into this important topic. This series offers in-depth discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the continent today. Hosted by Eric Degila, Professor of Practice of International Relations, Interdisciplinary Programmes and Visiting Faculty in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Geneva Graduate Institute, this series examines Africa’s most pressing challenges, from social justice to economic development, and African contributions in the reshaping of a new world order, through conversations with leaders, policymakers, and experts. In this inaugural episode, the special guest is His Excellency Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). With his extensive background in global governance, His Excellency Houngbo offers a unique perspective on labour rights, economic inequality, and social justice—critical topics not only for Africa but also for the global community. This episode addresses the global understanding of social justice within the African context, how labor rights and economic inequality intersect, the impact of the informal economy, and the urgent need to tackle youth unemployment. Additionally, the discussion covers the ILO’s collaboration with African governments and Africa’s role in reshaping global governance, following recent discussions at the UN Summit of the Future. Listen in for valuable insights into how Africa can navigate its path toward social justice and economic inclusion

In this episode of In Conversation With, we are honored to host Professor Gandhi, a distinguished historian and scholar. Join us as we delve into the current state of democracy worldwide, examining whether it is truly in retreat as some argue, or if there are signs of resilience and hope. Professor Gandhi shares his unique perspectives on the rise of far-right movements in Europe, the surprising outcomes of recent elections in India, and the evolving role of India on the global stage. We also explore the enduring influence of Gandhian thought on modern democracy and the power of nonviolent action in today's world. Lastly, Professor Gandhi reflects on the role of scholars beyond academia, drawing from his extensive work in both historical research and public activism. Our host for this episode is Tripurdaman Singh, a researcher with the Institute's Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy.

On 25 April, the Geneva Graduate Institute co-organised with the Albert Hirschman Democracy Centre the event “Global Governance in a context of democratic backsliding” with Staffan Lindberg. After the event, the Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg and Director of the Varieties of Democracy project discussed key takeaways from the Democracy Report 2024 and its implications for democracies worldwide with Yanina Welp, Research Fellow at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy.

In this episode of In Conversation With, we explore Professor Abi Saab's unique approach to the study and practice of international law and how he seamlessly merged his roles as both a scholar and a practitioner. He also imparts invaluable lessons he has passed on to his students during his distinguished academic career.

This episode features a conversation between Stuart Campo, Team Lead for Data Responsibility at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’s Centre for Humanitarian Data, Charlotte Lindsey, Chief Public Policy Officer at the CyberPeace Institute, Balthasar Staehelin, Special Envoy for Foresight and Techplomacy at the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Achim Wennmann, Director for Strategic Partnerships at the Geneva Graduate Institute. This discussion sheds light on the cyber threat landscape and its impact on the humanitarian sector, and focuses on the meaning of humanitarian protection in the digital space and the role International Geneva should play. This episode was produced in partnership with the Diplomatic Club of Geneva and the CyberPeace Institute.

This episode features a conversation between Michel Jarraud, Secretary General Emeritus at the World Meteorological Organization, Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization, Marek Harsdorff, Economist in the Green Jobs Programme at the International Labour Organization, and Joëlle Noailly, Head of Research of the Centre for International Environmental Studies and Lecturer in the Department of International Economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. The new loss and damage fund announced at the UN climate talks in Sharm el-Sheikh marks a small step towards climate justice but much more is needed in order to tackle the multiple crisis induced by climate change. This discussion focuses on the challenges and opportunities for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable societies and the role that International Geneva can play. This episode was produced in partnership with the Fondation pour Genève and we invite you to have a look at their recent report entitled « International Geneva and the Climate Emergency » for further reading on the topic.

This episode features a conversation between Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and former Prime Minister of Italy, and Christine Lutringer, Executive Director and Senior Researcher of the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy at the Geneva Graduate Institute. This discussion focuses on the challenges European democracies are currently facing and highlights concrete proposals towards building more effective ways for citizens to participate.

This episode features a conversation between Barry Eichengreen, the George C. and Helen N. Pardee Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and Rui Esteves, Professor of International History and Politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. The dramatic economic and financial measures taken by the United States and its allies in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine point up the potency but also the limits of economic power. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that Russia will cause the country’s economy to contract by 9 percent in 2022. Yet there are no visible signs of this intervention inducing the Kremlin to halt its war on Ukraine or even to modify its prosecution of the war. Have Western sanctions failed? More globally, what is the future of international liberalism and economic integration given the current geopolitical context?

This episode features a conversation between Michael Sandel, the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government Theory at Harvard University, and Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute. In his latest book, The Tyranny of Merit: Can We Find the Common Good?, Michael Sandel argues that to overcome the crises that are upending our world, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalisation and rising inequality. Through the years, he has built a powerful toolbox for the critical assessment of our current life and institutional choices. So how do we move from critical thinking to a constructive re-engagement and positive transformation of our world?

What characterizes Mexico's feminist foreign policy and why was it proposed? How can a feminist foreign policy influence domestic policy regarding the gender perspective and equity? These are some of the questions that are addressed in this episode of In Conversation With. Our guest is Ms Martha Delgado Peralta, Mexican Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights. She is interviewed by Clara Schöpfel and Jessica Espinosa Azcárraga, students at the Geneva Graduate Institute, on Mexico's Feminist Foreign Policy. Martha Delgado Peralta has more than 29 years of experience in the federal government and NGOs engaged in the protection of human rights, and has gained national and international recognition as a public servant. As Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, she has promoted Mexico's feminist foreign policy to increase the number of women in leadership and decision-making positons throughout the country.

This episode features a discussion between Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Co-Chair of the International Crisis Group, and Professor Keith Krause, Director of the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the escalation of conflicts in some parts of the world and led to severe fiscal impacts on aid budgets. Lord Malloch-Brown hopes however that this crisis may trigger a new international engagement and recognition that these public good issues like pandemics or climate change cannot be only dealt with at the national level and require real international partnership and multilateral collaboration.

This episode features a discussion between David Nabarro, Co-Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and Special Envoy of WHO Director General on COVID-19 and Ilona Kickbusch, founding Director and Chair of the Global Health Centre at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. The COVID-19 pandemic reveals that our food systems are not working properly; food supplies are damaged, strong challenges face both consumers and producers, and food systems are simply not able to respond to a sudden increase in hunger. David Nabarro argues that we need to learn to become systems thinkers to establish a pathway to sustainable food systems. That was David Nabarro and Ilona Kickbusch discussing the future of food systems in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This episode features a discussion with Helen Clark, Former Minister of New Zealand and former Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, and Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamedou, Professor of International History at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. The so-called War on Drugs has led to devastating consequences. According to Helen Clark, it is time to rethink the drug policies rationale and anchor it in science and evidence. In this sense, the Global Commission on Drug Policy believes policies on drugs should be health- and human rights-based, and people who use drugs should not be criminalised.

This episode features a discussion with Philippe Sands, Professor of Laws and Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at University College London, and Zachary Douglas, Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. Philippe Sands explains the challenges he faced while writing his new book "The Ratline: Love, Lies and Justice on the Trail of a Nazi Fugitive". The investigation into the life of Otto von Wächter, a senior Nazi indicted for 'mass murder', also shows how his son still believes in the innocence and decency of his father despite facts and evidence. Philippe Sands stresses that part of this project was to make the audience understand that we must not exclude the personal from our assessment of the narrative and why certain things happen.

This episode features a discussion with Carlos Lopes, Professor in the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town, former executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and alumni of the Graduate Institute, and Gilles Carbonnier, Professor of Development Economics at the Graduate Institute and Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. This discussion focuses on the impacts of COVID-19 in Africa, more specifically on the macroeconomic effects and the humanitarian consequences presented by this crisis.

This episode features a discussion with José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, former Prime Minister of Portugal, and Visiting Professor at the Graduate Institute, and Erica Moret, Senior Researcher and Adjunct Professor in International Relations and Political Science at the Graduate Institute. This discussion focuses on the European Union’s policy response, and geopolitical challenges and opportunities presented by the crisis.

On 5 May 2020, the German Constitutional Court declared that the bond-buying programme of the European Central Bank was ultra vires (exceeding its competences) and therefore, explicitly challenged the authority of the European Court of Justice. Joseph Weiler, University Professor at NYU School of Law and Director of the Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice, and Beatrice Weder di Mauro, Professor of International Economics at the Graduate Institute, discuss how this German court ruling affects not only the monetary policy in the eurozone but also the future of the rule of law in Europe.

This episode features a discussion with Ivan Krastev, Director of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia and Permanent Fellow at the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna, and Shalini Randeria, Director of the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy at the Graduate Institute. This discussion focuses on the paradoxical world and new power dynamics emerging from the Covid-19 crisis.