How can culture strengthen peacebuilding and cooperation across borders?
The New School of Multilateralism invites its community in Vienna to attend “Belonging Across Borders: Culture, Identity and Peacebuilding”, an international panel organized by the International Cultural Diversity Organization (ICDO) as part of the 9th Long Nights of Interculturality.
In a world shaped by migration, conflict, growing diversity and rapid social change, questions of identity and belonging are increasingly connected to diplomacy, international cooperation and peace.
The discussion will explore:
▪️ Culture and cultural heritage as bridges between communities
▪️ Identity, belonging and coexistence
▪️ Intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding
▪️ Cultural diplomacy and international cooperation
▪️ The role of art, education and storytelling
Panelists:
▪️ H.E. Manizha Bakhtari, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna
▪️ PD Dr. Giulia Pelillo-Hestermeyer, Head of Cultural Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna
▪️ Dr. Anthony Löwstedt, Professor and Head of Media Communications at Webster Vienna Private University
▪️ Dr. Melita H. Šunjić, former Senior Press Spokesperson and Senior Communication Expert at UNHCR
Moderated by international relations and disarmament specialist Eleonora Neri.
21 September 2026, 18:00h
Azerbaijani Cultural Centre Art Gallery, Bellariastraße 8, 1010 Vienna
Free admission | Registration required
Held in English
Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/long-nights-of-interculturality-2026-panel-discussion-tickets-1994814760648
The wider festival, taking place from 21–27 September, also includes an international art exhibition, Costumes of the World at Vienna City Hall, and a free online programme of documentaries and short films.
Full programme and tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/24573717279
We encourage students, researchers, diplomats, practitioners and everyone interested in multilateralism, cultural diplomacy, migration and peacebuilding to join this timely conversation.
#Multilateralism #Peacebuilding #CulturalDiplomacy #InterculturalDialogue
#InternationalCooperation #BelongingAcrossBorders #Vienna #ICDO
Enjoy Summer time!
Next NSM meetings
5 Sept, NSM Editorial Meeting, Heuriger Zimmermann, 1190 Wien
5 Oct, TDHJ Authors & Board Members, Glas of Champagne, Café Francais (upon invitation)
20 Nov., Book Presentation & Round Table “Contested Democracy” at the European Democracy Congress in Vienna
Die NSM bei der Wissenschaftskommission
Die “Neuvermessung der Welt als Geschäftsmodell” (Werther-Pietsch, Die Presse, 19.12.2025) rückt die These der “Economisation of Everything” in den Vordergrund. Informelle und flexible Kooperationsformen bilden stärker situationsbezogene, weniger regelgebundene internationale Beziehungen heraus. Geopolitische Konkurrenz, wirtschaftliche Interessen und flexible Power-Arrangements schwächen normative Ordnungsmuster. Diese bleiben aber vorerst relevant.
To view the 2025 Democracy Support Declaration, visit NSM#BLOG POSTS Democracy, where you'll find a complete list of supporters and co-sponsors. A big thanks to everyone involved!
WELCOME!
Complexity as an obstacle and energiser
The New School of Multilateralism seeks normative solutions to today's grand challenges. How to address the increasing complexity of international relations? Are lawful approaches to reality eroding? Can we respond to the current crisis in international law?
According to Guido Strunk, an expert in complexity, crises occur exactly between the breaking of established orders and new directions for the future. Crises are not merely barriers to overcoming the present; they are catalysts for change and energisers (Werther-Pietsch, ZFAS 2023, see in The NSM Library). To make decisions with incomplete information, it is necessary to develop options and seek innovative solutions, inspired by Kelsen's idealist "ought to be," through Kissinger's pragmatic "is," to Koskenniemi's middle ground.
We Speak About Shaping Future International Relations
We are a platform of scholars from universities, think tanks, diplomatic circles, and international organisations, focused on evolving dynamics of international relations, actual shifts in geopolitical power, and their effects on global cooperation and legal frameworks.
It is imperative to identify new drivers of change, alliances and interest groups, along with the analysis of changing needs and conditions. Special emphasis is given to social change, the information society, impacts of climate crisis, technological advancements/AI, crisis management and conflict prevention, particularly on peace and conflict studies, the erosion of international law and the resilience of the multilateral system (see Mission Statement, IDEA State of Democracy Report 2024). Among those who engage constructively is the Team Europe Democracy with workstreams in the fields of rule of law, media, and digital society.
New alliances and interest groups are being identified and changing framework conditions are analysed with particular attention to the information society, the consequences of the climate crisis and the significant technological advancements we are facing. In summary, the emphasis is on crisis management, specifically regarding peace and conflicts, the strengths and weaknesses of the multilateral system, democracies, and the implications of the growing erosion of international law (refer to mission statement).
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