Student Experience: What Went on at the Paris Peace Forum 2024?

Ríona Gillespie, a student of Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) and current PSIA event assistant, attended this year's Paris Peace Forum (PPF 2024) at the Palais de Chaillot. She shares her experience as an international security student, a member of the PSIA team, and an aspiring diplomat.

> Watch also our video recap of the Paris Peace Forum 2024:

A timely debate

This year marks the seventh edition of the forum, and its relevance and necessity is as present today as it was back in 2018 during the inaugural summit. The forum took place less than a week after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, just before the G20 in Rio & COP29 in Baku, and during a landmark election year in multiple regions across the globe. The forum was also set against the ongoing backdrop of conflict and unrest, with more than 45 armed conflicts currently happening throughout the Middle East and North Africa alone (Geneva Academy).

This year’s theme, “Wanted: A Functioning Global Order”, placed emphasis on this turbulent geopolitical context, and the forum’s sessions were also firmly centred around these themes of instability, and a changing geopolitical landscape. The introductory session was a clear indicator of what was to come, diving straight into the ongoing war in Ukraine. The discussion included many ‘wake-up calls’ from Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian Human rights lawyer and Head of the Сenter for Сivil Liberties: "We need to understand the difference between 'let's help Ukraine not to fail' and let's help Ukraine win’...To Russia, Ukraine is a tool, not an end goal”. 

PSIA in action: Note Takers to Speech Makers

Sciences Po, as one of the eight founding members of the Paris Peace Forum, has taken part in every edition of the summit, contributing to both organisation and participation. This year was no different, with PSIA staff and students taking centre stage at the forum.

PSIA students are the official volunteers of the summit, and this year, over 80 students were in attendance at the Palais de Chaillot to attend the event in 11 different volunteer roles, from Greeters to Note Takers. In addition, some PSIA students were at the summit in a professional capacity, such as Vicky Dan Wu who is a current intern at the Paris Peace Forum Policy team and Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action student at PSIA.

Arancha González, Dean of PSIA, was also heavily involved as one of the key speakers at the forum. Her first of two sessions was a panel discussion on the global impact of the recent US presidential election. Dean González shared the stage with a distinguished panel, including none other than Ghassan Salamé, the founding Dean of PSIA.

When asked about her thoughts of the elections impact for Europe, she described her hope that the results of the US election would be “a moment of lucidity” and that Europe would use it as an opportunity to focus on strengthening its autonomy and addressing its own challenges internally: "the problems of Europe are in Europe, and the solutions of Europe are in Europe”. During the session’s Q&A, I had the privilege to ask the panel their opinions on Donald Trump's previous remarks about potentially reducing US involvement in NATO, and whether Europe should be concerned. The consensus? Withdrawal will not happen, but significant reduction in US contributions could be in NATO's future.

Dean Gonzaléz then opened her second session of the day; a round table discussion entitled: “The Paris Dialogue one year on: working together to finance sustainable development” - an apt topic given the location and timing of the summit. The discussion centred on the panellist’s own contributions to help shape common actions, messages, and ambitions for the Seville 2025 process. In her closing remarks, Dean Gonzalez highlighted the relaunch of Sciences Po Chair in Sovereign Debt and Finance: “[It] will be the hub in the university that will be looking at connecting with many of the initiatives that you’ve put on the table”.

“Wanted: A Functioning Global Order” - Needed: a functioning global institution?

As a woman aspiring to work within the diplomatic sector, I was privileged to attend one of the most enlightening sessions of the day - “Fit for purpose? How to revitalise the United Nations” - a female panel of presidents, UNCTAD secretary generals, founders, directors, and former Vice Presidents and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, moderated by Stewart Patrick, Senior Fellow and Director at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The discussion highlighted the need for change within the UN and why “the UN must go to the world” and not just work for people, but rather with them. One proposal was the micro-level organisational implementation of the SDG’s by engaging with grassroots organisations. However, given the demographic of the panel, the central theme of the discussion was the possibility of, and perhaps the need for, a Madame Secretary General of the UN. And in the words of Stewart Patrick, “...should someone be looking for a candidate for Secretary General, [they] wouldn't have any difficulty finding one up on this stage”. 

Peace-building unfolding

The ongoing brutal conflicts and increasing tensions in the Middle-east were, unsurprisingly, a common topic of discussion throughout the forum. However, the pinnacle of these discussions was during a midday panel discussion with two very significant participants: Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister, and Nasser Al Kidwa, former Palestinian Foreign Minister. In a landmark collaboration between seemingly irreconcilable visions and political interests, they presented their peace initiative and two-state solution. The session was introduced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot who expressed France's support for the two-state solution, beyond the ongoing war. The discussion was a rare opportunity to witness representatives of two of the states involved in this horrific war engaging in constructive dialogue.

Beyond the forum - Sciences Po’s PPF side events

PSIA’s involvement did not end on Armistice Day at Palais de Chaillot. In the day that followed, Sciences Po played host to two PPF side events on the campuses of Saint Thomas and 27 Saint Guillaume. The first day focused on AI through the "On the Road to AI Summit" which explored critical issues in AI governance and international collaboration. Bringing together experts from various fields, discussions focused on responsible AI practices, disinformation, digital infrastructure, and youth empowerment in shaping global digital policies. The event highlighted the need for cooperative strategies to address the transformative role of AI in global governance​.

Sciences Po then hosted the final event of the entire Paris Peace Forum programme, a panel discussion entitled “The Role of Youth in Strengthening South-to-South Cooperation”. The panel discussion explored how young leaders and innovators from the Global South could address shared challenges like poverty, inequality, and climate change through partnerships and knowledge-sharing, further highlighting the growing recognition of youth as a vital force in creating equitable and sustainable solutions globally.