Leveraging Diversity & Inclusion in Diplomacy & Development - Next Steps

Session Submission Type: Author meet critics

Session Description

A growing body of data and evidence indicate that successfully fostering international development, advancing diplomacy, and maintaining security depend upon the ability to effectively manage diversity and to leverage the experiences and perspectives offered by women and men; youth and elders; wealthier and poorer people; as well as those marginalized by their disabilities, their sexual orientation, their race or ethnicity, or their gender identity. That evidence is bolstered by myriad international laws and agreements mandating more broadly inclusive foreign aid, peace building, conflict resolution, and diplomatic engagement.

The international affairs field—and sub-fields related to global security, international development, and conflict resolution—have not kept up with global trends. Policy makers and practitioner are not equipped to manage and confront the growing complexity of countries and communities around the world, because they have not been infomed how to navigate the quickly evolving world we observe today—with greater diversity in nation-states; growing populations flows; changes in the drivers and participants in warfare; and enduring grievances attributed to race, ethnicity or religion fueled by more powerful weapons and rapidly increasing information flows.

This session will invite a discussion of how diversity and inclusion need to be recognized, managed and leveraged in international affairs. The starting point for the conversation will be a forthcoming volume that discusses the growing implications of diversity for stability and prosperity. The volume also overviews the drivers and causes of exclusionary tactics and strategies, and captures the costs and consequences of exclusionary approaches to International affairs. Finally, the book overviews strategies and tools for promoting inclusion in diplomacy, conflict resolution and international development efforts.

The conversation will build on the forthcoming text to discuss how to advance and expand study in the field. The conversation will address the emerging agenda for research, the next volume needed to advance the focuse on diversity and inclusion in the field of interntational affairs, as well as the potential for development of curricular materials to facilitate teaching and learning.

Sub Unit

• DIVISION 31: Women and Politics Research

Cosponsor

• DIVISION 20: Foreign Policy

Chair

• Carla Koppell Georgetown University

Presenters

• Bonnie Jenkins Women of Color Advancing Peace Security and Conflict Transfo

• Heidi Hardt University of California, Irvine

• Brett Ashley Leeds Rice University

• Amy Erica Smith Iowa State University