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Once a traditional instrument of statecraft and bilateral cooperation, diplomacy has expanded to include non-state actors like think tanks, NGOs, and even Silicon Valley. What is the future of diplomacy, and is the post-war international order still fit for purpose? Will multilateral institutions rise up to the challenges of the digital century, or will they plunge further into a sea of idealistic constructs? Fiker Institute’s Diplomacy and Global Governance Program aims to study the disruption of diplomacy in light of the changing nature of global affairs, as the international community finds itself connected more intimately, yet more remotely, than ever before.
Reconstructing Sovereignty: Gaza’s Future Beyond Rubble – A Palestinian-led Vision

Reconstructing Sovereignty: Gaza’s Future Beyond Rubble – A Palestinian-led Vision

Following the Arab League emergency meeting in early March, momentum around Gaza’s reconstruction has grown amid regional urgency and renewed international focus. At the heart of this effort lies a pivotal question: Will reconstruction serve as a tool for Palestinian sovereignty or be co-opted into another externally imposed process and prolonged military occupation?  This Policy Brief argues […]

America’s Climate Finance Exodus: What It Means For Africa

America’s Climate Finance Exodus: What It Means For Africa

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump upended years of climate finance commitments to Africa. The US President issued an executive order withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement and rescinding the US International Climate Finance Plan. This did not come as a surprise as it is the second time President Trump has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. […]

Undoing the Transatlantic Partnership: Europe vs. Trump

Undoing the Transatlantic Partnership: Europe vs. Trump

The transatlantic partnership, historically a shared pillar of security and economic prosperity for the United States (US) and Europe, now faces unprecedented challenges as US President Donald Trump’s second term ushers in a new era of confrontation. At the Munich Security Conference in February 2025, Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized European leadership, revealing the widening rift between the […]

The 2025 German Elections: Party Politics & International Implications

The 2025 German Elections: Party Politics & International Implications

After the fall of the traffic-light coalition in November 2024 and Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s failure to win a vote-of-confidence the following month, Germany’s government has a  fresh opportunity to re-constitute itself in the upcoming snap elections on February 23, 2025. Scholz’s cabinet was deeply fragmented by internal disagreements, particularly over budget proposals. Havoc erupted after a […]

Farah El Abbady
The EU’s New Leadership & The Middle East

The EU’s New Leadership & The Middle East

When the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen took office in 2019, she vowed to make the European Union (EU) a leading actor in confronting global challenges. Now in its second iteration, von der Leyen’s “geopolitical Commission” faces even more pressing worries in an increasingly geopolitical world: the return of Great Power politics has left […]

Miriam Aitken
Trump 2.0: Cabinet Picks & Foreign Policy Positions

Trump 2.0: Cabinet Picks & Foreign Policy Positions

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming second administration has sparked controversy, largely due to his Cabinet appointments. His selections have raised concerns about qualifications and suitability for key positions. For instance, Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth as the United States (US) Defense Secretary has drawn criticism due to his lack of sufficient and relevant experience for the role, […]

Rand Shubair