Bridging the divides: the world of modern diplomacy

Hello! Every day, remarkable acts of diplomacy are happening around the world to bring us one step closer to cooperation on our biggest conflicts and challenges. But how much do we really know about what goes on behind closed doors? And what are the ingredients of a successful negotiation? We speak to climate diplomacy legend and friend of the pod, Christiana Figueres, about her leadership on one of the most extraordinary diplomatic feats: the 2015 Paris Agreement. Gabrielle Rifkind, a specialist in conflict resolution, tells us about the importance of finding the ‘human face’ of conflict. Finally, the EU’s former top diplomat Catherine Ashton talks to us about the highs and lows of her time on the job, and why all of us are diplomats without even knowing it.

Plus: We’ve talked sandwiches, we’ve talked toasters. Have a guess at which gadget has Ed bought for himself this week...

Guests

Christiana Figueres, co-founder of Global Optimism and former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC 2010-2016 (@CFigueres / @OutrageOptimism) 

Gabrielle Rifkind, Specialist in conflict resolution and Director of the Oxford Process (@OxfordProcess)

Catherine Ashton, Former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and author of And then what? Inside stories of 21st century diplomacy 

More information

Buy a copy of Catherine's book

Listen to Outrage and Optimism, Christiana and Tom Rivett-Carnac's podcast

Learn more about the Oxford Process

'We need to rethink how we do diplomacy,' Guardian Article, Catherine Ashton

Learn more about the Paris Agreement, the legally binding treaty on climate change

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