The Rest Is Politics: Leading 35. Cathy Ashton: Dealing with Putin and Lavrov, Kosovo–Serbia, and 'radical humility'
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Sep 10, 2023 Cathy Ashton, former leader of the House of Lords and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, discusses her experiences negotiating with world leaders like Putin and Lavrov. Topics include empathy in foreign affairs, challenges in international diplomacy, misogyny in powerful positions, validation, social policy, courageous leaders, Thakchi's indictment, Putin's views on Crimea and Ukraine, and the challenges of democracy.
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Lukewarm Reception
- Cathy Ashton acknowledges a lukewarm reception to her appointment as EU Foreign Policy chief.
- Even her own country questioned her qualifications.
The Weight of the World
- The role of EU High Representative was relentless and emotionally taxing for Cathy Ashton.
- She felt the immense weight of global crises and worried about doing enough.
Crisis and Complexity
- International crises are complex and don't have quick fixes.
- Long-term solutions are needed, and problems require decades to solve, not months.