Graduate Institute What Matters Today

Imagine a world leader facing the possibility of arrest for war crimes. Today, that scenario is not fiction but reality. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These charges, linked to the Gaza conflict, have sent shockwaves through international politics and law.While the ICC has previously indicted other heads of state, this case marks a significant development in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In this episode of What Matters Today, we dig into the intricate details of this unprecedented move. We'll explore the ICC's mandate, the specific allegations, and the profound implications for global diplomacy and justice.Joining us is Professor Paola Gaeta, a renowned expert in international law here at the Geneva Graduate Institute.Professor Gaeta has an extensive background in international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and human rights. She is also a member of the editorial board of the Journal of International Criminal Justice and has published widely on these subjects. With her help, today’s episode will navigate this complex and controversial topic with her deep expertise and insights.

Welcome to this joint Who is voting in 2024 and What Matters Today podcast episode. A quick word about both of these series. Who is voting in 2024 is a series produced by the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre On Democracy focusing on the multiple elections taking place in 2024.What Matters Today, which is produced by the Institute’s Communications department, is a current affairs podcast series featuring Geneva Graduate Institute faculty and international experts commenting on the most pressing global issues.Our guests today are Mukulika Banerjee and Gopalan Balachandran.Mukulika is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She specializes in political anthropology and election cultures, among other areas. Having just returned from a few weeks in India, she brings a valuable "on the ground" perspective to this discussion.Gopalan is the Co-Director of the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy and a Professor of International History and Politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. His areas of expertise include globalization, emerging countries, and diasporas, among others.

In this episode, we explore a groundbreaking legal case in Switzerland where the European Court of Human Rights addressed the intersection of climate change and human rights violations. We analyze the arguments presented in the case and the court's evaluation of their claims, highlighting the significance of establishing governmental accountability in climate policy. We also discuss the broader implications of the ruling for global climate justice and human rights protection, and offer insights into the actions governments, including Switzerland, must take to mitigate climate change and safeguard the rights of all citizens.Our guest is Anne Saab, Associate Professor in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute. 

From the bustling streets of Moscow to the corridors of power in the Kremlin, Russia stands at a critical crossroads. Recent events have cast a shadow over the nation, leaving citizens and observers alike questioning the future of democracy and governance. As part of our ongoing election series, in this episode of What Matters Today we delve deep into the heart of one of the most consequential events in contemporary Russian politics: the recent election.  Join us as we unravel the complexities, explore the implications, and seek to understand what lies ahead for Russia and the world."Our guest today is Dr. Vassily Klimentov, Faculty Lead, Applied Research Projects, Conflict, Peace, & Security Track here at the Institute

On 29 December, following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, South Africa appealed to the International Court of Justice under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Last month, the International Court of Justice ordered a series of provisional measures against Israel. In this episode, we delve into the recent ruling and explore a series of critical questions surrounding this landmark decision. Our guest today is Nico Krisch, Professor of International Law, and Head of the International Law Department at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

The main United Nations agency responsible for aid to Palestinians, also known as UNRWA, is in the eye of the storm, as an unprecedented humanitarian disaster unfolds in the Gaza Strip. Some employees of UNRWA are accused by Israel of having been involved in the Hamas attacks of 7 October, 2023. Since these allegations were made public by the agency itself, several Western countries, led by the USA, have suspended their funding. Our guest for this episode is Riccardo Bocco, Emeritus Professor in Anthropology and Sociology at the Geneva Graduate Institute

Dans cet épisode de "What Matters Today", Jérôme Duberry, directeur exécutif du Tech Hub, interviewe la professeure Lyse Langlois, directrice générale de l'Observatoire international sur les impacts sociétaux de l'intelligence artificielle et du numérique (OBVIA) à l'Université de Laval. Ils explorent le thème de l'éthique au cœur de l'intelligence artificielle, basé sur le dernier rapport publié par l'OBVIA. Lyse Langlois souligne l'importance de l'éthique appliquée et de la responsabilité collective dans un contexte d'évolution rapide de l'intelligence artificielle, mettant en garde contre une approche de checklist qui pourrait détourner l'éthique vers une simple formalité. Elle préconise des cours d'éthique obligatoires et le développement de la compétence éthique comme une aptitude, favorisant la délibération et la sensibilisation continue pour guider l'évolution de l'éthique de l'IA. Plus d'infos sur: - l'Institut: graduateinstitute.ch - l'OBVIA: https://observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca

Welcome to another episode of What Matters Today. In today's episode, we unravel the intricate world of cybersecurity. We will delve into the various categories of hackers and explore the common cyber threats faced by non-profits. We will also look into the ever-evolving role of artificial intelligence in both cyber attacks and defense. Stay tuned for insights into how AI is transforming the cybersecurity game and discover the best practices to fortify your digital defenses. Today’s episode is hosted by Jerome Duberry - who is the Managing Director of the Tech Hub here at the Institute, and is also an academic advisor for the Institute’s Executive Education Programme. Jerome’s guest today is Adrian Ogee, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER at the CyberPeace Institute.

Welcome to What Matters Today. In today’s episode, we are taking a deep dive into the world of sustainable IT. Topics covered in this episode include the Sustainable IT Charter, which the Geneva Graduate Institute signed in June, joining 443 other organizations in doing so. We will also take a glimpse into sustainable IT initiatives at the Institute, as well as uncovering best practices for greening our digital footprint. We hope you enjoy this conversation at the intersection of technology and sustainability. Hosting today’s episode is Jérome Dubérry, who is the Managing Director of the Tech Hub here at the Institute, and is also an academic advisor for the Institute’s Executive Education Programme. Jérôme’s guest include Johan Den Arend, Head of IT at the Institute and Ivan Mariblanca Flinch, founder and CEO of Canopé, a Swiss startup that measures the environmental footprint of organizations’ IT systems among other services.

In this episode of What Matters Today, we turn our focus to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, a topic that has captured international attention. Photo credit: Momen Faiz / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP As we navigate the complexities of this conflict, we aim to provide you with a deeper understanding of the historical context, the root causes, the latest developments, and discuss potential pathways to peace. Our guest today is Riccardo Bocco, Emeritus Professor of Political Sociology at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Last week’s NATO summit in Vilnius achieved its primary goals which were to reach an agreement that Sweden could join the alliance, and to strengthen support for Ukraine. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed frustration that there was no clear path to membership. Joe Biden, in an interview with CNN on the eve of the summit said that Ukraine cannot join NATO while the country was at war. In addition, Ben Wallace, the UK defence secretary, said that “whether we like it or not, people want to see a bit of gratitude”, when asked about Zelenskiy's frustration. All of this creates the impression that NATO is not entirely united. In this episode we will examine some of these points and discuss how expansion impacts NATO. Our guest today is Professor Jussi Hanhimäki who is Professor of International History and Politics, and Chair of the Department of International History and Politics here at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Intro Credits: DW News

The death of 17-year-old French-Algerian Nahel Merzouk, killed by a police officer on 27 June in Nanterre, France sparked urban riots across France. Things seem to be calming down, however tension definitely persists. In ths episode we look at the factors behind these riots and how France’s colonial past plays an important part in all of this. We also discuss what needs to be done to help prevent a similar situation from happening again. My guest today is Professor Mohamed Mahmoud MOHAMEDOU, who is Deputy Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute, as well as Professor of International History and Politics and Director of Executive Education here at the Institute. Intro Credits: Daily Mail

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere nowadays. This special edition episode of What Matters Today examines how AI is being used on a daily basis, the issues of AI governance and ethics, and of course, ChatGPT. This episode is moderated by Dr. Jérome Duberry, Managing Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute's Tech Hub; Academic Advisor, Executive Education; and Senior Researcher at the Institute. Our guests for this episode are Anne Lee Steele (Researcher and Community Manager, The Turing Way, Alan Turing Institute), Léo Laugier (Postdoctoral Researcher, Distributed Information Systems Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)), Anna Leander (Professor of International Relations and Political Science, Geneva Graduate Institute) and Samuel Smith (Master student, Geneva Graduate Institute)

More and more private military companies are replacing soldiers on battlefields these days. We have seen this before, with Blackwater in Iraq, and are seeing this again with the Wagner Group being used in the Russia-Ukraine war. In addition to Ukraine, the group has significantly increased its activities in recent years in Syria, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Mozambique and Mali among other countries. In some of these countries, the Wagner Group has been accused of human rights violations. In fact, last month, the French parliament designated the Wagner Group as a terrorist entity and called on the EU to do the same. In this episode of What Matters Today, we focus on questions such as the current status of the Wagner group, its ties with Russia, and who is controlling the group’s actions. Our guest today is Dr Annyssa Bellal, Senior Researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute's Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding; Executive Director of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform; and Visiting Professor at the Institute. Intro Credits: FRANCE 24 English

Next week is Science Diplomacy Week here in Geneva and therefore this week’s episode of What Matters Today will focus on the topic of Science Diplomacy. We will highlight what Science Diplomacy is and discuss the problems it’s trying to solve. We will also talk about how the war in Ukraine is impacting Science Diplomacy. Our guest today is Niccolo Iorno. Niccolo is a biotechnologist with an MBA from the Collège des Ingénieurs, a “grande École” based in Paris. He currently works at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, where he deals with various aspects related to Science in and for Diplomacy. And Since 2021, Niccolo serves as Chair of the Foreign Ministries Science and Technology Advisors Network. In this episode, Niccolo is interviewed by Dr Jérôme Duberry, who is the managing director of the Tech Hub here at the Geneva Graduate Institute, and is also an academic advisor for the Institutes Executive Education Programme. Just a quick word about the Tech Hub, it’s transdisciplinary initiative that supports all departments and research centers here at the Institute. The Tech Hub's activities revolve around two main objectives: 1. Supporting research, teaching, and dialogue on and with digital technologies at the Institute. 2. Expressing our own voice on technologies To find out more about the Tech Hub, visit our website at graduateinstitute.ch/tech-hub To find out more about about Science Diplomacy Week, be sure the visit graduateinstitute.ch/events

On the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s Foreign Ministry presented a 12- point peace plan entitled “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis“ to end the war in Ukraine. Fred Tanner, who is a Research Associate at the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, and is a Visiting Professor at Institute, joins us for this episode of What Matters Today. Is the plan credible? Why did China propose such a plan when it’s supporting Russia? Can China dissuade Vladimir Putin from using nuclear weapons? These are just some of the questions we focus on in this episode. Intro Credits: ABC News

The Iraq war started on 20 March 2003 when US forces invaded the country with the goal of “disarming it, freeing its people, and to defend the world from grave danger”. The US formally declared the end of the war on 15 December 2011. As today is the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war, we look at its long shadow, and how it still looms. How has the war impacted Iraq and its people? Did Operation Iraqi Freedom, the US code name for the invasion, actually provide freedom? These are only a few of the questions that we discuss in this episode of What Matters Today. Our guest today is Professor Mohamed Mahmoud MOHAMEDOU, who is Deputy Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute, as well as Professor of International History and Politics and Director of Executive Education here at the Institute. Intro Credits: Democracy Now!

On 7 December of last year, Peruvian president Pedro Castillo was removed by Congress and arrested on charges of “rebellion” and “conspiracy”. This has led to weeks of violent protests in Peru that have resulted in the deaths of at least 48 people. Protesters are demanding the dissolution of Congress, the resignation of Peru’s new president, Dina Boluarte, new general elections, and the release of Castillo In this episode of What Matters Today, we look at the underlying causes of these protests and why they are so violent. We also discuss what comes next and how this crisis will potentially end. Our guest for this episode is Marc Hufty, Professor of Development Studies at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Intro Credits: Channel 4 News

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting many households globally. But how did we get here? We know that the war in Ukraine is fuelling the cost of living crisis, however what are the other causes? What are the potential solutions to this crisis? Salary increases and price controls are often brought up as solutions, but are they effective? And lastly, how will this crisis impact the transition to greener energy? These are some of the questions that we will examine in this episode of What Matters Today. Our guest is Charles Wyplosz, Honorary Professor, International Economics and Faculty Associate, Centre For Finance And Development at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Intro Credits: DW News

Israel has been through several elections in the past few years. In fact, Israel has had five elections in just four years. The most recent elections, the ones that took place on November 1st, saw an important rise of the far right in Israel. In this episode of What Matters Today we look at the impact of the far right in Israel. We also examine how the far right helped Benjamin Netanyahu win the election. And finally, we discuss the general reaction of Palestinians to the election results. My guest for this episode is Cyrus Schayegh who is a Professor of International History and Politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Please note that this episode was recorded on in mid-November Intro Credits: Reuters