Presented byMelissa H. Conley TylerNational Executive Director Australian Institute of International Affairs

Communicating Europe: the Role of Institutes of International Affairs

Outline• Overview of Institutes of International Affairs• Case Study: the Australian Institute of International Affairs• The AIIA and Europe: Raising Awareness

Institutes of International Affairs

Institutes of International Affairs

• First wave of institutions grew out of the Versailles Peace Treaty negotiations 1919

• British Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and the US Council on Foreign Relations were the first established

• Now at least 116 institutes of international affairs around the world

• Some institutes are think tanks; others are not

• Some are closely allied with or attached to government; others are independent

Institutes’ Activities:• Membership• Events• Training• Professional education/training• Research• Publications• Second track dialogue• Lobbying• Media• Youth activities• Public awareness• Networking• Advocacy and/or facilitation between parts of

government

Why Are They Important?

• Source of advice to policy-makers• Second track diplomacy• Training and education• Public understanding

Case Study of the Australian Institute of International Affairs

Australian Institute of International Affairs

The AIIA’s mission is to promote interest in and understanding of international affairs in Australia.

It is an independent, non-profit organisation established in 1924.

The AIIA is funded through memberships, events, publications, property rental and a small grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It has a small paid staff but more than 150 volunteers.

Aims

Australian Institute of International Affairs

• Eventsmore than 200 events per year nationwide

• Publicationsincluding the Australian Journal of International Affairs, various book series and pamphlets

• Youth Engagementincluding school programs, careers fairs, young professionals’ networks and internships

• Collaborationincluding second track dialogue with other institutes of international affairs

Activities

AIIA interns meeting the Hon Dr Julie Bishop MP

The AIIA’s constitution prevents it from expressing an opinion on any topic in international affairs.

Its model is to provide a platform for debate.

Increasing Understanding

Media Partnerships

• AIIAvision YouTube Channel• A-PAC media partnership• Australia’s Role in the World

The AIIA and Europe: Raising Awareness

Events

Talks on Europe at the AIIA in 2012 to date:

• The Twilight of the Eurozone? • Europe: Navigating through the Current Crisis –

HE David Daly, Head of the EU Delegation to Australia

• France, the EU and Australia – HE Mr Stéphane Romatet, French Ambassador to Australia

• Why Central Europe Matters• The French Presidential Elections• European Crisis Enters Lethal Phase – ABC

journalist Stephen Long• Why the Poles feel Insecure• The Future of Europe• National Democracies and the European

Union’s New Economic Reforms• From Crisis to Salvation – Can Mario Monti Save

Italy?

HE David Daly, Head of Delegation of the European

Union to Australia

Publications

• Policy commentary, April 2012: No Eutopia: The European Union Today

• Australian Journal of International Affairs, August 2011: Special issue on Australia’s Trade with Europe: Potential Unfulfilled? launched in Canberra and Brussels

Second Track Dialogue

• ASEM: Events in Canberra and Melbourne featuring:- Dr Lay Hwee Yeo (Singapore Institute of International Affairs) and Dr Wilhelm Hofmeister (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung)- Belgian Ambassador HE Patrick Renault, Head of European Union Delegation HE David Daly- Dr Stefan Auer (LaTrobe University), Dr Philomena Murray (University of Melbourne), Dr Bruce Wilson (RMIT) and Dr Pauline Winand (Monash University)

• G20: Partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and involvement in the University of Pennsylvania’s G20 Think Tanks Summit.

Youth

• VCE Seminar – “Crises and Responses”

• International Careers Conference

• Quarterly ACCESS and Monthly ACCESS

• Nygh Internship to the Hague Conference on Private International Law

Maintaining Public Interest

Sir Zelman Cowen Oration, AIIA VIC, “Australia: Foreign Policy in a Changing World”Dennis Richardson, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Presented byMelissa H. Conley TylerNational Executive Director Australian Institute of International Affairs

Communicating Europe: the Role of Institutes of International Affairs