A Better Way to Detect the Origins of a Pandemic

A Better Way to Detect the Origins of a Pandemic

The war in Ukraine has caused severe disruption to regional and global security, including raising concerns about the potential use of unconventional weapons.1 Not least of these concerns is the dangerous Russian disinformation campaign alleging biological weapons development in Ukraine, which has led to fears that Russia itself may use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as part of a false flag operation.2 In addition to highlighting the critical need to guard against biological risks, these allegations have drawn attention to serious gaps in the global biosecurity and pandemic preparedness architecture.

Interview: The doctrine of nuclear deterrence is the main obstacle for nuclear disarmament 🎬

Interview: The doctrine of nuclear deterrence is the main obstacle for nuclear disarmament 🎬

Tom Sauer, Professor in International Politics of University of Antwerpen and Heinz Gärtner (IIP) discuss the results of the first Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in Vienna and the tenth Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York.

Is AI Upending Geopolitics? with Angela Kane

Is AI Upending Geopolitics? with Angela Kane

Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast is joined by Angela Kane to discuss how AI is likely to upend geopolitics. Kane, a former UN under-secretary-general, also shares some of her concerns about the role of the UN and the many ways AI could undermine international peace and security. Without proper guardrails, the development and deployment of AI systems could accelerate the pace of armed conflict and risk loosening control over the means of war.

Lab Leak? Bioweapons Attack? Natural Pathogen? A New Proposal Would Give the UN the Ability to Investigate | Angela Kane

Lab Leak? Bioweapons Attack? Natural Pathogen? A New Proposal Would Give the UN the Ability to Investigate | Angela Kane

Rapidly identifying an emerging infectious pathogen is critical to prevent a disease outbreak from becoming an epidemic — or even a deadly pandemic. But right now, there is no agreed international mechanism to do so. Veteran UN diplomat Angela Kane is trying to change that. She is working to create a new UN body to strengthen UN capabilities to investigate high-consequence biological events of unknown origin.

IIP TALK with Glauk Konjufca, President of the Parliament of Kosovo and Hannes Swoboda 🎬

IIP TALK with Glauk Konjufca, President of the Parliament of Kosovo and Hannes Swoboda 🎬

How will the future of Kosovo look like in the next five to ten years? Will the new government find a way to stimulate the economy and to bring Kosovo onto the path of a prosperous democracy, where its citizens do not feel the urge to leave the country in search for better perspectives? What should the European Union do to support Kosovo? What role could Austria have and how should Kosovo deal with other external actors in the region like Russia, Turkey or China?

Recognition of the Genocide is the Precondition for the Reconciliation 🎬

Recognition of the Genocide is the Precondition for the Reconciliation 🎬

In May 2022 the IIP visited the Srebrenica Memorial Center and established a successful cooperation with the Memorial Center. Sever interviews were conducted with members of the Memorial Center, who talked about their work at the center and their personal stories which are connected to the genocide which happened in July 1995.

IIP Talk - Geopolitics dominates the Middle East: Heinz Gärtner in conversation with Shireen Hunter 🎬

IIP Talk - Geopolitics dominates the Middle East: Heinz Gärtner in conversation with Shireen Hunter 🎬

Shireen Hunter is Professor for Political Science at the Georgetown University in Washington DC and a career diplomat. Among others she addresses the following issues: A stronger defense cooperation among Arab States and with Arab States in the framework of the Abraham-Accords against Iran is emerging, but an Arab-NATO is not likely. Both President Biden and his predecessor abandoned the two-state solution for the Palestinians. Iran’s nuclear program is just a pretext to weaken Iran’s geopolitical position in the region. The nuclear agreement (JCPOA) would be the best means to prevent a nuclear weapon. The alternative to the JCPOA could be war. Israel wants neither, however. There are hard-liners in the US and in Iran that are happy with it.