The Next Page 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 

We invited Itonde Kakoma, the new President and CEO of Interpeace,  to talk about the mission of Interpeace – an organization that had its origins in the UN and works to prevent violence and build lasting peace. Interpeace has over 30 years of experience working in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America.  
In this conversation with the Director of the UN Library & Archives, Francesco Pisano, Itonde Kakoma talks about inclusive peacebuilding, a participatory approach and a vision of peace anchored in the cohesion and resilience of citizens, the diversity and inclusion of communities and the responsiveness and trustworthiness of State institutions. They discuss the obstacles around implementing the strategic aims of rethinking peace, enhancing resilience and embedding peace, as well as the nexus between peacebuilding and multilateralism.
Resources
Interpeace website: https://www.interpeace.org/
 
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: Itonde Kakoma, President, Interpeace
Host: Francesco Pisano
Producer: Amy Smith
Editing and social media designs: Mengna Chen  
Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

A conversation with Under-Secretary-General Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of UNECE
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five Regional Commissions of the United Nations. ECE was set up in 1947 to promote pan-European economic integration. Francesco Pisano met with UNECE’s new Executive Secretary, Ms. Tatiana Molcean for a conversation on the role of the Commission and how it serves multilateralism. They also talk about the vision for European economic integration and the challenges currently facing the wider European region.
Resources
UNECE website:https://unece.org/
 
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=R06Hz-T2C0M&t=3s
Content   
Guest: Tatiana Molcean, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNECE
Host: Francesco Pisano
Producer: Amy Smith
Editing and social media designs: Mengna Chen  
Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

Will we have a breakthrough or a breakdown? In this second episode with Adam Day, Head of the Geneva Office of the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, we continue the exploration of the Six Transformative Shifts proposed by the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism for a more secure and sustainable future.
Adam Day talks with Francesco Pisano, Director of the Library & Archives about the second three shifts: digital and data governance, peace and prevention and anticipatory action. They also discuss how the UN architecture that was set up post-World War II has aged and what a review of the UN Charter would look like.
Resources
HLAB Report:https://highleveladvisoryboard.org/breakthrough/
Our Common Agenda policy briefs: https://www.un.org/en/common-agenda/policy-briefs
United Nations University Centre for Policy Research: https://unu.edu/cpr/abouthttps://unu.edu/explore
Slaughter, A.-M. (2017). The Chessboard and the Web: Strategies of Connection in a Networked World. Yale University Press.
Previous episodes with Adam Day:
A Breakthrough. Part I: https://unitednationslibrarygeneva.podbean.com/e/a-breakthrough-six-transformative-shifts-part-i/
A time for change and effective multilateralism – a conversation with Adam Day | The Next Page (podbean.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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R06Hz-T2C0M&t=3s
Content   
Guest: Adam Day
Host: Francesco Pisano
Producer: Amy Smith
Editing and social media designs: Menga Chen  
Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 

In this and the following episode, we take a deep dive with Adam Day, Head of the Geneva Office of the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, into the Six Transformative Shifts proposed by the High-Level Advisory Board (HLAB) on Effective Multilateralism for a more secure and sustainable future.
Here, in part 1, Adam Day talks with Francesco Pisano, Director of the Library & Archives, about the first three shifts: rebuilding trust in multilateralism; planet and people; and global finance. They talk about re-thinking what consensus means, making multilateralism inclusive and the rights of future generations. Adam also focuses on the vital need to elevate environmental issues, he discusses peace as a public good, and looks at the viable yet ambitious track on finance.
 
Resources
Previous episode with Adam Day: A time for change and effective multilateralism – a conversation with Adam Day | The Next Page (podbean.com)
HLAB Report:https://highleveladvisoryboard.org/breakthrough/
Our Common Agenda policy briefs: https://www.un.org/en/common-agenda/policy-briefs
United Nations University: https://unu.edu/explore
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=R06Hz-T2C0M
Content   
Guest: Adam Day, Head of the Geneva Office, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research 
Host: Francesco Pisano
Producer: Amy Smith
Editing and social media designs: Menga Chen  
Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva 
 

We are starting our 2024 series with an episode with H.E. Mrs. Claudia Fuentes Julio, Permanent Representative of Chile.
Ambassador Fuentes Julio talks about her interesting career path into diplomacy and representing her country. She tells us about the geography of Chile, bounded between the magnificent Andes and the vast Pacific Ocean, and she relates some of the history of Chile and its long connection with multilateralism, including as a founding Member of the United Nations.
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=KdlO3HCabTk
Content   
Speakers: Ambassador Claudia Fuentes Julio
Host: Francesco Pisano
Producer: Amy Smith
Editing and social media designs: Menga Chen  
Recorded & produced at the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva