Academy of International Affairs NRW
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aia-nrw.bsky.social
Academy of International Affairs NRW
@aia-nrw.bsky.social
AIA is dedicated to the global challenges and through its Fellowship programme it promotes scientific excellence and builds international and interdisciplinary connections.

🌎 https://www.aia-nrw.org/en/
📍 Bonn, Germany
Pinned
We’re officially on Bluesky! Follow us for the latest updates on activities and fellowships.
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.
January 29, 2026 at 11:13 AM
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...
January 27, 2026 at 9:13 AM
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.
January 22, 2026 at 9:07 AM
📘 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...
January 15, 2026 at 8:54 AM
❗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...
January 13, 2026 at 9:14 AM
🚀 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...
January 8, 2026 at 9:22 AM
📄 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...
December 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
🌐 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...
December 16, 2025 at 9:06 AM
🎥 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...
December 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
🏢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...
December 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
🤝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...
December 9, 2025 at 10:22 AM
📢 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...
Autocracy On the Rise – Can Cities Save Democracy? – Academy of International Affairs NRW
www.aia-nrw.org
December 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
🌐 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...
December 2, 2025 at 9:51 AM
📢 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...
November 27, 2025 at 9:18 AM
🎭 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...
November 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
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...
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM
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.
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🇬🇧 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...
November 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM
🌍 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...
November 13, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🤝 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...
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 AM
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
November 6, 2025 at 8:46 AM
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...
November 4, 2025 at 9:38 AM
👋 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...
October 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
🚨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...
October 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
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...
October 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM