In this episode, Emil Seidenfaden, an historian presently undertaking postdoctoral research at the Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, joined us to talk about his recent book, Informing Interwar Internationalism. This fascinating work combines international history and media history and explores the intersection of journalism and diplomacy at the time of the League of Nations. Emil talks about the relationship between public information and legitimacy, and how the Information Section officials at the League negotiated the tensions between propaganda, public opinion and internationalism.   Resources Seidenfaden, E. E. (2024). Informing Interwar Internationalism: The Information Strategies of the League of Nations. Bloomsbury Academic. Histories of Internationalism   Seidenfaden, E. E. (2020). Daniel Hucker, Public Opinion and Twentieth-Century Diplomacy. A Global Perspective. Leiden: Brill. Potter, S. J. (2023). Broadcasting in the Cause of Peace: Regulating International Radio Propaganda in Europe, 1921–1939. The International History Review, 45(6), 843–864. https://doi.org/10.1080/07075332.2023.2224352 Sweetser, A. (1916) Roadside Glimpses of the Great War. Macmillan. London. Covenant of the League of Nations: https://libraryresources.unog.ch/ld.php?content_id=32971179 The League of Nations Information Section: https://libraryresources.unog.ch/LONSecretariat/information   Emil’s book recommendation: Cohen, D. (2023). Last Call at the Hotel Imperial. The Reporters Who Took On A World At War. Penguin Random House.   Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: Content    Guest: Emil Seidenfaden Host, producer and editor: Amy Smith Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

Pour cet épisode, nous sommes enchantés d’accueillir Pierre Van Den Dungen pour parler d’Henri La Fontaine, un homme intense et fascinant gratifié du prix Nobel de la Paix en 1913. Pierre Van Den Dungen, docteur en Philosophie et Lettres (Histoire), a consulté la totalité des papiers personnels de La Fontaine au Mundaneum, à Mons, afin de rédiger la biographie intitulée « Henri La Fontaine, prix Nobel de la Paix 1913 : une vie » publiée aux Editions Samsa en 2022. Pierre Van Den Dungen nous présente les grandes lignes de la personnalité de La Fontaine, en mettant en lumière son entourage, ses réseaux et sa sphère intime. Il explore ensuite les convictions pacifistes et mondialistes de La Fontaine, ainsi que son long mandat de 36 ans à la présidence du Bureau international de la Paix. Il traite également de la période de la vie de La Fontaine durant la Première Guerre mondiale, de son implication au sein de la Société des Nations, pour finalement évoquer les dernières années de sa vie durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale.   Ressources Van den Dungen, Pierre. (2022) Henri La Fontaine, prix Nobel de la Paix 1913 : une vie. Bruxelles. Editions Samsa. https://www.henrilafontaine.be/ouvrage/henri-la-fontaine-2/ Rencontre avec Pierre Van Den Dungen : https://www.henrilafontaine.be/2023/01/07/chaire-hlf-rencontre-avec-pierre-van-den-dungen/ Fondation Henri La Fontaine : https://www.henrilafontaine.be/la-fondation/ Mundaneum : http://www.mundaneum.org/fr Discours d’Henri La Fontaine, 8ème séance plénière de la première Assemblée de la Société des Nations, 20 novembre 1920 (p. 171 du PDF) : https://archives.ungeneva.org/the-records-of-the-first-assembly-plenary-meetings Description des archives du Bureau International de la Paix (1891-1951) : https://archives.ungeneva.org/international-peace-bureau Où écouter cet épisode Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: Henri La Fontaine, un enragé de la paix avec Pierre Van den Dungen (youtube.com) Contenu Invité : Pierre Van den Dungen Hôte : Hermine Diebolt Réalisation : Amy Smith Enregistré et réalisé à la Bibliothèque & Archives des Nations Unies à Genève

Robert Bruce Adolph joined us for this short episode to talk about his book Surviving the UN: The Unexpected Challenge. Robert worked on assignments in many conflict areas in the world in the 1990s during his second career as a UN Chief Security Officer, following his retirement as US Army Special Forces Lieutenant-Colonel. He was present during the deadly bomb attack on the UN compound in Baghdad on 19 August 2003. Over two decades later, as we approach the anniversary of that horrific event, Robert Adolph talks about why he wrote the book and about learning from failure. Resources Adolph, Robert Bruce. (2020). Surviving the UN: The Unexpected Challenge. New Academia Publishing/Vellum. (Available at the UNOG bookstore) Website: Robert Bruce Adolph - https://robertbruceadolph.com/   Bob's book recommendation Pinker, Steven. (2012). The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. Penguin Books.   Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ Content    Host: Amy Smith Speakers: Robert Bruce Adolph Production and editing: Amy Smith Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva  *This episode was recorded online and we apologize for the low sound quality.

The interns working at the UN Library & Archives Geneva gathered for a discussion with the Director of the Library & Archives, Francesco Pisano, on their thoughts on multilateralism, multiculturalism and working at the UN. Raphaela, Lucas, Alicia, Mengna and Ashrul come from different countries, are studying at different institutions and have different academic backgrounds. They share with us inside tips on applying for UN internships, explain their own motivations and give a glimpse of what they have learned during their time at the Library & Archives and UN Geneva. Together, they explore what multilateralism, multiculturalism and multilingualism mean to them in their lives and work. Resources UN Internships: https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/page/internships UN Careers: https://careers.un.org/home?language=en Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ Content    Host: Franceso Pisano Speakers: Interns at the UN Library & Archives Geneva   Ashrul Bin Mohammad Azmi   Raphaela Gutierrez   Alicia Grünert   Lucas Westphal Jensen   Mengna CHEN Concept and editing: Mengna CHEN Producer: Amy Smith Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

Ellie Hutterli is a Senior Swiss UN Youth Delegate for 2022-24 and her priority topics are sustainable cities and communities, digitalization, reduced inequalities with a special focus on gender equality, and youth participation and inclusion. Ellie joins us for this episode to talk more about the Youth Delegate programme, her priority topic on women’s rights and gender equality, as well her thoughts more broadly on youth participation in the United Nations. Resources Conseil Suisse des Activités de Jeunesse : https://www.sajv.ch/en/projects/youth-rep Youth Delegate Programme: https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/un-youth-delegate-programme#:~:text=The%20roles%20of%20a%20youth,attending%20meetings%20and%20informal%20negotiations. Youth: https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth Our Common Agenda: https://www.un.org/en/common-agenda Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCxsgnF67Lw Content    Guest: Ellie Hutterli, Swiss Youth Delegate Host, producer and editor: Amy Smith Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

Thomas Hale is Professor in Public Policy (Global Public Policy) at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. He also co-leads the Net Zero Tracker and the Net Zero Regulation and Policy Hub. His research explores how we can manage transnational problems effectively and fairly. In this conversation, Professor Hale talks with Francesco Pisano, Director of the UN Library & Archives Geneva, about his new book: Long Problems: Climate Change and the Challenge of Governing Across Time. The book offers a fresh perspective on addressing climate change through the lens of political science. They explore the challenge of long problems and Thomas Hale argues that political science must play a crucial role, alongside natural sciences, in finding solutions to existential threats like climate change through new frameworks for long-term policymaking. Resources: https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/people/thomas-hale Hale, T. (2024) Long Problems: Climate Change and the Challenge of Governing Across Time. Princeton University Press. Long Problems | Princeton University Press Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: Content    Guest: Professor Thomas Hale Host: Francesco Pisano Producer and editor: Amy Smith Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

Join us for the next episode in our ambassadors series in which H.E. Mr. CHEN Xu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland talks with the Director of the Library & Archives, Francesco Pisano. Ambassador Chen speaks of the history of China, its role in the Asian region and in the world, as well as in the United Nations. Content    Speaker: Ambassador CHEN Xu Host: Francesco Pisano Producer and editor: Amy Smith Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

Catherine Bertini is The Rockefeller Foundation Managing Director for Food, former Executive Director of the World Food Programme and World Food Prize Laureate (2003). We were delighted to have her join the Director of the Library & Archives, Francesco Pisano, for this episode to explore the question of food security and the vision of achieving zero hunger in an equitable world. The Rockefeller Foundation published a report last year providing an analysis of the current obstacles to food security and offers innovative ideas to overcome them. You can read the report via the link below. Resources The Rockefeller Foundation Report: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/report/defining-the-path-to-zero-hunger-in-an-equitable-world/ International Food Policy Research Institute:  https://www.ifpri.org/event/commitments-impact-analyzing-global-commitments-toward-promoting-food-security-and-healthy Catherine Bertini: https://www.catherinebertini.com/   Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: https://youtu.be/DgKDGI8ZRi4 Content    Guest: Catherine Bertini, The Rockefeller Foundation, Food Host: Francesco Pisano Producer: Amy Smith Editing: Mengna Chen   Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

In this rich conversation with Professors Davide Rodogno and Carloyn Biltoft, we delve into a world of meaning making and examine the depth and breadth that history offers for policymaking. Davide Rodogno is professor of International History and Politics and the Head of the Interdisciplinary Master Programme at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He specializes in researching international organizations and philanthropic foundations, and transnational networks and movements since the 19th century. Carolyn Biltoft is associate professor of international history and politics at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Her works fuses the tools of world history, intellectual history, cultural studies and critical theory. She is interested broadly in the dynamic interactions between globalising structures and infrastructures and diverse beliefs, emotions, concepts and human life-worlds.  Resources Geneva Graduate Institute: https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/international-history-politics Carolyn Biltoft’s book suggestions: Hartman, Saidiya. (2019). Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Social Upheaval. W. W. Norton & Company (February 19, 2019). Johnson, Denis. (2012) Train Dreams: A Novella. Picador Smail, Daniel Lord. (2007) On Deep History and the Brain. University of California Press; First Edition Davide Rodogno’s book suggestions: García Márquez, Gabriel (1967) One Hundred Years of Solitude / Cien años de soledad. García Márquez, Gabriel. (1985). Love in the Time of Cholera. García Márquez, Gabriel. (1992) Strange Pilgrims. Twelve Short Stories. (Bon Voyage Mr. President, is set in Geneva)   Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h32UaG8AgZc Content    Guests: Davide Rodogno and Carolyn Biltoft Host and Producer: Amy Smith Editing and social media designs: Mengna Chen   Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

Founder and Executive Director of Diplo Foundation, Dr. Jovan Kurbalija, takes us on a journey from the past to the present and across civilizations to explore the interplay of technology and diplomacy. Diplomacy and technology are at the heart of Diplo’s mission. Dr. Kurbalija emphasizes the importance of writing as a diplomatic tool and begins by telling us the story in the Sumerian poem “Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta”, recounting how Enmerkar invents writing on clay tablets to relieve the messenger of having to remember the increasing number of messages with which he is charged. Jovan talks about the similarity of the Ancient Egyptian Amarna letters to today’s diplomatic notes, the advanced messaging system of the Persians at the time of Cyrus the Great, how the Romans and Byzantines concealed information, the advances in technology during the Renaissance period and he highlights the themes of continuity and change all the way to present day. He also speaks about the impact of social media, AI, and our need to remain open to embracing technology in a smart way. Resources Diplo website: https://www.diplomacy.edu/ Kurbalija J. (2023) History of Diplomacy and Technology: From Smoke Signals to Artificial Intelligence   available at: https://www.diplomacy.edu/resource/history-of-diplomacy-and-technology-from-smoke-signals-to-artificial-intelligence/ Where to listen to this episode  Apple podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-page/id1469021154 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/10fp8ROoVdve0el88KyFLy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ Content    Guest: Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, Diplo Host and Producer: Amy Smith Editing and social media designs: Mengna Chen   Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva