School News AGS

On April 19-20, the American Graduate School in Paris hosted its 7th Annual Graduate Student Conference on "The Roles and Challenges of Diplomacy in the 21^st Century: Inclusion and Exclusion in a Globalized World". Participants from Norway, Canada, South Africa, India, the United States, Russia, Spain, Australia, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Barbados, Venezuela, Belgium, and France exchanged their experiences, research findings and ideas on the subject. Around 100 academics, journalists and professional diplomats joined in the audience to take part in the debates.

Panels covered diverse aspects of the conference theme such as the growing role of non-state actors, the impact of new communication technologies on diplomacy, power politics and hegemony in international relations, multilateral diplomacy in a globalized world, and the contemporary case of the Arab Spring.

The highpoint of the conference was a keynote panel that brought together career diplomats from the United States, Lebanon, Germany, and Switzerland: H.E. Wilfried Bolewski, former Ambassador of Germany to Jamaica and Belize, Philip Breeden, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, H.E. Dominique Dreyer, former Ambassador of Switzerland to India and China, and H.E. Samira Hanna-El-Daher, former Ambassador of Lebanon to Japan, Cyprus and the Philippines. Pulitzer Prize winner Serge Schmemann of the International Herald Tribune moderated the discussion and Q & A session. With a cumulative 130 years of experience in the practice of diplomacy, having witnessed and taken part in the recent evolution of this domain and with firsthand understanding of the challenges ahead, the panelists shared their views on such questions as the skills needed to be a good diplomat today, the importance of global negotiations versus traditional state-to-state diplomacy, the growing role of NGOs, and the recent Wikileaks issue.

"Attending this unique discussion between prestigious diplomats and getting a chance to ask them questions was an amazing experience and privilege. This was not like anything you could find in books or on the Internet. The panelists gave us insight into the practice of diplomacy on-stage and backstage. They generously shared their collective knowledge and conveyed their passion for the art of diplomacy," comments Arcadia/AGS student Carlyle Taylor (class of 2013).

A full video recording of the panel will be available on AGS's Youtube Channel soon.

The other panels each succeeded in bringing diverse international perspectives to each of the topics, and in connecting academics with practitioners in the field (see conference schedule). Among the presenters were two students from AGS in Paris and two students from the International Peace and Conflict Resolution program at AGS's partner institution Arcadia University. The conference was entirely organized and fundraised by AGS students, under the supervision of AGS professor and faculty organiser Dr. Ruchi Anand and under the coordination of Student Director Ryan Godfrey (class of 2012), an Arcadia/AGS dual Master's candidate.

Erik Szedely, a graduate student at the University of Oslo, Norway and at Sciences-Po in Paris, France commented: "The graduate student conference of AGS in Paris was a fantastic academic and social experience. Two days of presentations on various topics in the field of diplomacy gave us all food for thought and motivation to continue in our studies to better understand the complex realities of world politics. The interaction between students and feedback from both professors and career diplomats are just priceless."

On the occasion of the conference, AJ Jackson, a Ph.D. Candidate at AGS and a professor in the Arcadia undergraduate study abroad programs, announced the launch of an academic journal published by AGS, "The American Graduate School in Paris International Studies Review". One of the papers of the conference will be selected to be featured in the first issue, and further connections between the journal and the yearly conference will be explored.

Ambassador Bolewski, one of the keynote panelists, concludes : "The AGS Conference shed some light on the various issues and stakeholders in modern Diplomacy, ranging from non-state actors to the Internet and Public Diplomacy. The young academic participants will now have to carry their interest in the practice of diplomacy to the level of problem-solving. They might discover that creative diplomacy as thinking outside the box matters more than ever, since it is not about perfection, but accommodation."

Author and journalist Alan Riding led a discussion on "The Social Responsibilities of Writers and Artists" at AGS on Wednesday April 18. Riding based his talk on the extended research he did for his latest book And the Show Went On: Cultural Life in Nazi-Occupied Paris (Knopf: New York 2010), as well as on the knowledge gained from his 40-year career as a journalist, including 12 years as Cultural Correspondant for Europe of the New York Times. Riding engaged the audience in a discussion about the role of art and creation during times of conflict and misery. This event was one of the "AGS Wine and Cheese" evenings, which gather faculty, students, alumni and guests to debate issues of international affairs in a convivial atmosphere around a buffet of French cheeses and wine.

On April 19-20, the undergraduate students spending a semester in Paris in the Arcadia-AGS Study Abroad program went on a two-day trip to Strasbourg, France. Since Strasbourg is one of the EU capitals, this allowed them to see firsthand what they discussed in class. Along with AGS study abroad coordinator Jennifer Wright, they visited the Council of Europe which is the oldest intergovernmental organization in Europe and the one that brings together the largest number of countries (47 member states). There they had a guided tour including a visit of the main Chamber which is the seat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe. This was followed by an informational talk by one of the Council staff. Students also spent some time exploring the city and visited the Notre-Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral which is one of the landmarks of Alsace. And of course they enjoyed Alsatian cuisine (Sauerkraut, Riesling Wine, Flemmekueche...).

More information on Strasbourg

More information on the undergraduate Arcadia-AGS Study Abroad program

See photos of the reception:

Ten AGS alumni and students met with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett during a reception hosted for the Governor's first investment and trade mission to France. The reception was open to alumni and students of all Pennsylvania colleges and universities residing in France. The Master's in International Relations and Diplomacy at AGS being an affiliated program of Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, Arcadia President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III invited AGS to represent Arcadia University at the reception, as alumni of this program are also alumni of Arcadia University.

The Governor spoke to each of the AGS/Arcadia participants and met with Alexis Delabre, chairman of the board of AGS, and Eileen Servidio, president of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at AGS who were also in attendance. In his speech about economic, cultural and educational development in Pennsylvania, Governor Corbett then cited Arcadia as one of the state's major universities represented at the reception.

"Through its affiliation with Arcadia, and through the very nature of its programs, the American Graduate School in Paris hopes to take a small part in the larger mission of transatlantic cooperation between France and the US. Discussing these matters with Governor Tom Corbett and his Cabinet members was therefore a very constructive opportunity as they seem extremely keen on encouraging this kind of cooperation," says Alexis Delabre.

The reception was held in Paris at the George C. Marshall Center, one of the buildings of the US embassy in France, located near Place de la Concorde. Representing AGS and Arcadia were:

• Alumni Adam Kegley (class of 2011), Mairi Lee (class of 2005), Amandine Muskus (class of 2010), Sarah Pedersen (class of 2008), and Jennifer Wright (class of 2009).

• Graduate students Lisa Albright (class of 2012), Ruth Atoyebi (class of 2012), Caroline Meyer (class of 2012), and two students enrolled in the ;Arcadia/AGS dual Master's in International Peace and Conflict Resolution / International Relations and Diplomacy, Ryan Godfrey (class of 2012), and Carlyle Taylor (class of 2013).

"We are very proud of our long and deepening affiliation with the American Graduate School in Paris," says Arcadia President Oxholm. "Because of the high regard in which AGS is held in Paris and by the international community, our students are able to be taught by some of the best in the diplomatic field. We are very glad that Governor Corbett was able to meet our students and faculty, and see firsthand the potential value to Pennsylvania from our excellence in study abroad."

See photos of the reception:

M.A. candidate Erika Rodriguez (class of 2013) recently published an article entitled "Venezuela's Love Affair With China" on the Latin American Bureau (LAB)'s website. Erika's article talks about the dynamics between China, Venezuela and the US, and illustrates the idea of Venezuela's oil being used as a diplomatic weapon.

"I explore the effect that Venezuela's oil trade with China could have on its already politically strained relations with the US, along with the efforts that Venezuela is making on decreasing dependency on the US, and diversify oil markets to China".

The Latin American Bureau (LAB) is a London-based independent research and publishing organization. The LAB works to broaden public understanding of issues of human rights, development, culture and social and economic justice in Latin America and the Carribean.

Read article by Erika Rodriguez

AGS sponsored the participation of Master's student Etienne Rosas (Class of 2012) in a Model UN conference in Utrecht, Netherlands, on February 25-26. This is intended to open the way for the participation of AGS student groups in future MUN conferences around the world.

This two-day conference was organized by University College Utrecht (UCU). Etienne Rosas (2nd from the left on the photo) was one of about 100 participating students from about ten organizations. There were five different panels simulating five organs: UN Security Council, International Court of Justice, European Parliament, UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Etienne Rosas represented the Reform Party of Estonia at the European Parliament.

"There is no better way to gain international experience than relating personally to people from all over the world and of all types of backgrounds. This experience allows you to do just that. It really pushes you to step outside of your comfort zone and come up with collective solutions with other participants." says Rosas.

The next MUN conference that AGS students are considering joining will take place in Barcelona on May 2-5, 2012. Etienne Rosas will participate in the training sessions along with Professor Ruchi Anand who supervises this project.

See photos of UCU MUN with Etienne Rosas (2nd from the left on all pictures)

The first Wine and Cheese evening of the Spring semester was held on February 22nd on the theme: "Emergence of China: End of the West's Dominance?" The discussion was animated by H.E. Dominique Dreyer, former Ambassador of Switzerland to China and India, and a faculty member at AGS, who lived and worked in China for almost twenty years. His position as a diplomat and ambassador gave him expert insight on the political, economic and social structures underlying China's recent development.

Introducing the discussion with the famous quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte: "Let China sleep, for when China wakes, it will shake the world" ("Laissez donc la Chine dormir, car lorsque la Chine s'éveillera, le monde tremblera"), Ambassador Dreyer then reviewed the post-WWII history of China before examining today's situation and assuming possible scenarios for the future.

"China started developing at a speed that took the world by surprise. After initial tender feelings of sympathy, the world was astonished, and now it is going through various phases of fear, anger, as well as admiration and cooperation," says Dreyer.

AGS Wine and Cheese evenings are informal debates gathering AGS students, alumni, faculty, staff, and outside guests in a convivial setting around good French wine and cheese to discuss a topic of international relations. These events are held twice a semester and the topic varies each time. The discussion is animated by an AGS faculty member or an outside expert on the subject. If you are interested in attending in the future, please contact Matthew Delabre.

See photos of the Wine and Cheese evening:

For the start of the new semester on Thursday, February 9th, AGS welcomed new students from Russia, Hungary, Spain and the US. They joined the International Relations and Diplomacy Master's and Ph.D. programs. The new semester also marked the arrival of two new Assistant Professors on the AGS faculty: Dr. Tatiana Coutto, from Brazil, will be teaching the course "The European Union and the World", and Dr. Firouz Vakil, from the US, will be teaching "Current economic Problems and Policies".

Sarah Pedersen, AGS's Academic Coordinator, says: "The new cohort of students is very multicultural and seems very dynamic and engaged in international relations - much in the AGS spirit!"

See photos of the orientation session:

AGS now offers a humanitarian internship program every summer in Mauritius, off the East coast of the African continent. Thanks to a newly signed partnership with the Rushmore Business School, located South of the capital Port Louis, students enrolled in the M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy at AGS have the opportunity to participate in a 10-week long internship from mid-June to end-of-August on the Mauritius Island. This internship can be counted for credit towards the AGS degree.

Internship placements are in NGOs, governmental or intergovernmental organizations in the humanitarian sector. Examples of possible internship placements are: Amnesty International (field work), Human Rights Commission (office work), American Embassy (office work), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Red Cross, United National Association of Mauritius (Mauritius branch of the World Federation of United Nations), Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS - umbrella organizations of several NGOs), and others.

See more information here

AGS has signed a new academic partnership with UC Berkeley Extension, the professional and continuing education branch of the University of California, Berkeley: students enrolled in one of the International Relations graduate programs at AGS now have the opportunity to attend a two-month summer program on Management and Leadership in San Francisco, CA, and earn a Certificate from UC Berkeley Extension.

“This program was selected by AGS among the various UC Berkeley Extension International Diploma Programs because of its ability to nicely complement the discipline of International Relations.” explains Jennifer Wright, who coordinates special programs and new partnerships at AGS. “While it focuses on business environments, skills acquired in this program are highly transferrable to other types of organizations such as NGOs, intergovernmental organizations or government agencies.”

See more information on this program