The AIA Summer Academy is taking place in Bonn from 15 to 18 June under the title Subnational Diplomacy Shaping Global Affairs – a topic that is becoming increasingly important in science, politics and business. The aim is to find out what potential subnational diplomacy has for the development and shaping of international politics in times of polycrisis.
Central topics of the panels and workshops include city diplomacy and science diplomacy. A focus is on youth groups and current diplomatic processes. Special attention is paid to German-American relations, German-Chinese relations and case studies from Europe, South Asia, South America and Africa.
Over three days, the Summer Academy is bringing together diplomats, academics and practitioners in expert discussions and interactive workshops to reflect on the relevance of subnational diplomacy and identify best practices. Focusing on key topics such as climate change and sustainability, democracy promotion and civil society cooperation, the participating experts are shedding light on the challenges and promises of subnational diplomacy. They are debating key issues such as the compatibility of diplomatic practices with subnational diplomatic efforts, the role of cities, and the question of how to make subnational diplomatic processes equitable.
Participating experts include representatives from many European and US cities, leading diplomatic researchers, diplomats and AIA NRW Fellows.
The AIA NRW has initiated this high-level Summer Academy to bring together relevant actors and influential voices in the increasingly important field of subnational diplomacy. To this end, the Academy cooperates with a number of key institutions in this field, including the German Marshall Fund, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP Berlin), the Institute for Development and Sustainability (IDOS), the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies (BICC) and the international city network ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.