Academy of International Affairs NRW

🚀 It is the final day of our authors' workshop for our book project on ‘Responsibility in Space’. The AIA NRW Outer Space Affairs working group has brought together experts to explore this urgent question of responsibility, spanning law, policy, and philosophy. In his keynote speech, Prof. Hobe, emphasised the importance of responsibility in today’s decisions, noting that they must pass the test of ensuring the next generation can live with the consequences of our actions. Our director, Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din, underscored the necessity of an interdisciplinary and international approach to addressing these challenges as a global community. We extend our gratitude to the authors for their dedication and invaluable contributions to this book, which aims to illuminate the dimensions of these critical issues and pave the way for meaningful action. Stephan Hobe (University of Cologne), Chelsea Haramia, Güneş Ünüvar, Raúl González Muñoz, Adam Bower, Lina Pohl, Daliah Bibas, Katharina Glaab, Ingo BAUMANN, Dr. Laetitia C. Cesari (University of Luxembourg), Jacqueline Reichhold, LL.M. (Aberystwyth), Martin Reynders, Leonardo A. López Marcos, Katja Grünfeld, Almudena Azcárate Ortega, Haley Rice, PhD, Beatrice Hainaut, Guilhèm Penent, PJ Blount, Tegan Watt Harrison, Dr. Cassandra Steer, Prof. Frans von der Dunk, Christopher Johnson, Natalie B. Treviño, Cris van Eijk, Gabrielle Leterre, Roohi Dalal, Kristina T., Shrawani Shagun Jha, Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, PhD and Francesca Faedi.

Historical oral hearings on states' responsibilities for climate change are underway at International Court of Justice (ICJ)! AIA Fellow Dr Milla Vaha, from the The University of the South Pacific, reports from The Hague: “The process started in the Pacific, and Pacific Island Countries are delivering powerful submissions on the existential threat of the climate crisis.” Milla Vaha, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Affairs, is currently based in Bonn until March 2025, undertaking her fellowship at AIA on ‘From the Nuclear to the Climatic Threat: Existential Insecurities in the Pacific Island Countries’. For more information, please follow this link: https://lnkd.in/ekatgWVB

🌐 ESA astronaut Gerhard Thiele shared: “Teamwork and communication are vital for any large-scale mission.” at our side-event held as part of the UN World Space Forum in Bonn. 🚀 ✨ Our Fellows Adam Bower, Chelsea Haramia, and Raúl González Muñoz reflected on his insights. Adam noted: “Thiele’s insights show how communication shapes responsibility in space.” Chelsea added: “It’s not just about whether we can do something, but whether we should—and when.” Raúl brought further perspectives to a lively discussion on Mars, the Moon, and global collaboration! For more information, please follow this link: https://lnkd.in/enCf8zsY

"If we as humanity more generally and as regulators of space more specifically see outer space as environment, I feel like there are lots of normative, philosophical, political implications following that starting point. What I am trying to do in my research is to explain how we can expand what environment is and how we can incorporate this in the way that we regulate outer space", states Associate Fellow Güneş Ünüvar during his latest interview for AIA's Impulse series. In this interview he sheds light on pressing questions: Is there a risk of being hit by falling satellites? What threats does space debris pose? And why should we consider space as an "environment"? For more information and to explore more video features, please follow this link: https://lnkd.in/e6tF-8ev

“The EU sees space as key to its strategic autonomy, linking Galileo, Copernicus, and IRIS2 to innovation, resilience, and security. As global tech competition grows, Europe's Space Strategy for Security and Defence ties civilian and military readiness to geopolitical goals.” stated our Fellow Raúl González Muñoz during his research colloquium late last week. Raúl González Muñoz is Lecturer in Space Policy and Economy at the University of Leicester (UK) and is currently residing in Bonn, Germany, where he is conducting research on the "Implementation of the European Union Space Defence & Security Strategy: Key Challenges and Enablers". For more information, please follow this link: https://lnkd.in/dQsGqk5H We would also like to thank our Fellows for sharing their expertise and contributing to a truly interdisciplinary discussion: Milla Vaha, Adam Bower, Mariia Levchenko, Bernhard Stahl, Chelsea Haramia and Katharina McLarren.

On the 23rd anniversary of the first Afghanistan Conference at the Petersberg in Bonn, I had the honor of welcoming Afghan President Hamid Karzai for a conversation. We discussed the current situation and explored future perspectives for Afghanistan. Karzai has always represented hope for his country. During our exchange, he emphasized the importance of a national dialogue as a cornerstone for progress. This meeting serves as a reminder that even in times of great challenges, dialogue and shared vision remain vital for a brighter future. Academy of International Affairs NRW

🚀 Outer space: a new frontier for politics, economy, and cooperation! As commercial interest and state involvement grow, so do the challenges of responsibility. From legal frameworks and ethical standards to protecting future generations, the stakes are high. As part of our Fellowship Programme, our research group focusing on Outer Space Affairs – namely Chelsea Haramia, Güneş Ünüvar, Raúl González Muñoz, and Adam Bower – has developed a concept for our next publication and enlisted outstanding authors in the field to debate ideas and concepts that will illuminate current and future issues of responsibility in outer space. We are delighted to host this incredible group scientists, practitioners and policy experts:  Stephan Hobe (University of Cologne), Chelsea Haramia, Güneş Ünüvar, Raúl González Muñoz, Adam Bower, Lina Pohl, Daliah Bibas, Katharina Glaab, Ingo BAUMANN, Laetitia Cesari (University of Luxembourg), Jacqueline Reichhold, LL.M. (Aberystwyth), Martin Reynders, Leonardo A. López Marcos, Katja Grünfeld, Almudena Azcárate Ortega, Haley Rice, PhD, Beatrice Hainaut, Guilhèm Penent, PJ Blount, Tegan Watt Harrison, Dr. Cassandra Steer, Frans von der Dunk, Christopher Johnson, Natalie B. Treviño, Cris van Eijk, Gabrielle Leterre, Roohi Dalal, Kristina T., Shrawani Shagun Jha, Agnieszka Lukaszczyk, PhD and Francesca Faedi. For more information, please follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eSjEdAr7

📢 Now available in English | Interview with our Director Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din In an interview with journalist Martin Wein, our director Mayssoun Zein Al Din discusses the Academy of International Affairs NRW's unique role as a leading think tank in Bonn. The article highlights how our Academy provides a collaborative platform for international fellows to address critical global issues, from climate change to geopolitical security. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e_Y5QggP

📢 New Publication Alert! The Academy of International Affairs has launched a new series of publications. The first three issues of the AIA Discussion Papers are out now, featuring insights from our fellows on key global issues: 📌 Juris Pupcenoks provides an overview of changes in Russia’s strategic narrative towards Ukraine in the lead-up to the war; 📌 Tonka Kostadinova, PhD introduces new theories on women in foreign policy; 📌 Katharina McLarren has written a literature review on the role of religion in international relations. We wish you an enlightening read! Current and future AIA fellows will have a platform here to share their knowledge and expertise, and to publish their research findings. Dive in for expert insights and detailed analysis! Enjoy the read! Please review the papers here: https://lnkd.in/eb4jgC3m

It was our pleasure to host this workshop as part of your fellowship here at AIA . The event was marked by a lively debate, thanks to your and Raúl González Muñoz's excellent preparation and your ability to bring together such a distinguished group of experts here in Bonn. We dearly miss our Honorary Fellow Albus and hope to welcome you back soon! Please review this link for the after event report: https://lnkd.in/emUsEmsd