Programs by Country: Switzerland + Dialogue of Civilizations
Geneva: Disarmament Diplomacy, International Negotiations and Humanitarian Action (Closed)
Dialogue of Civilizations | Geneva, Switzerland
Faculty Leader: Professor Denise Garcia -Political Science and International Affairs (denisegarcia@neu.edu)
Study Abroad Coordinator: Daisy Biddle (d.biddle@neu.edu)
Course Description:
- INTL 4945 Dialogue of Civilizations: Global Issues in Comparative Perspective
- POLS 4938 International Politics - Learning Abroad
Description:
The Geneva Dialogue on Disarmament Diplomacy and Humanitarian Action was founded in 2007 at Northeastern University by Assistant Professor Denise Garcia of Political Science and International Affairs. The Dialogue takes places in Geneva, Switzerland at the European Headquarters of the United Nations and exposes students to a high level practice of real life diplomacy and negotiation of key international political issues related to disarmament and humanitarian action. This is also a fantastic opportunity for students to utilize skills of networking for possible future professional prospects.
Students will spend a month at the United Nations, interacting with diplomats and negotiators from several countries, as well as United Nations personnel, non-governmental organizations, researchers, academics, and students from around the world. They will learn about world politics in action and how international cooperation occurs in the making of new international treaties and initiatives to address some of the most pressing problems humanity faces today. Since the beginning of Dialogue, several co-op opportunities began with at least five students in co-op at a time per semester in Geneva and beyond.
The focus of this Dialogue is on pressing issues of disarmament, arms control, international humanitarian law, and international security. Beyond lectures, there are active and hands-on activities such as debates, role playing, visits, and discussion. This is an extraordinary and unique opportunity afforded only to Northeastern University students. There is no other university in the world that offers the same elaborate month-long opportunity at the United Nations.
Professor Garcia is the author of pioneer research on this area: Small Arms and Security - New Emerging International Norms, Routledge 2006/Reprinted 2009 and Disarmament Diplomacy and Human Security - Norms, Regimes, and Moral Progress in International Relations, Routledge 2011. She continues to pursue a research agenda in the emerging norms in international diplomacy regarding disarmament topics and is enthusiastic to share this expertise with her students throughout their time in Switzerland.