#internationalrelations

Interviews with Industry Leaders & Academic Experts

Our interviewees will help you discover what it is like to work with various companies and universities in Switzerland and abroad. You will also learn about persuasive and effective oral and written communication.

Whether you are a junior professional looking for career inspiration or simply curious about the latest work and research in economics, communications, international relations, education, and related fields, in the section below you will find valuable insights and motivation to explore new research, ideas, and career opportunities.

Women in Media: Caroline Vuillemin on Creating Reliable News in Conflict Zones & Running Fondation Hirondelle

What is it like to effectively lead an NGO focused on helping to create unbiased media in some of the world's most challenging conflict...

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Jul 15, 202415 min read

The Careers of UN Staff Spouses: Interview with Paloma Redondo

What does it look like to be a UN staff spouse and embark on a career journey that spans multiple nations and opportunities? In this...

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Sep 12, 202311 min read

UN Today Coverage of Persuasive Discourse

This January, UN Today co-published our interview with Fabien Merz about Switzerland’s UNSC membership (2023-24) and his research on...

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Jan 29, 20233 min read

Academic Success: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics

Review of the academic career advice offered by the last five academics interviewed on this site, who work in Denmark, USA and Switzerland.

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Dec 29, 20226 min read

Rights Violations, Domestic Conflict, Protest & Comics: Interview with Emily Hencken Ritter, PhD

What does it look like to study and teach the topics of political violence, international human rights law, and war, in the U.S.? And how can you use the power of comics to translate your complex written work into simple drawings and messages to reach and persuade a larger audience? If you are a researcher, academic writer, scientist, or producer of any type of complex written work, and you are looking for ways to positively impact more people with your findings, then Dr. Emi

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Nov 18, 202221 min read

Political Violence, Design, Critique & Prevention: Interview with Jonathan Luke Austin, PhD

What does it look like to work in the field of political violence prevention? If you want to learn about how the worlds of policy, practice, and academia come together to address this crucial topic, then the work Dr. Jonathan Luke Austin will not only educate but also inspire you. Dr. Austin is one of my former PhD classmates and an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark. This past April, I had the opportunity to have an in-

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Oct 18, 202222 min read

Analyzing the Swiss & U.S. Financial, Political & Academic Elites: Interview with Felix Bühlmann

What does it look like to research and analyze the Swiss and U.S. elites? If you are curious to learn about some of the specific characteristics of the financial, political, and academic elites living in Switzerland vs. the U.S., then the work of Felix Bühlmann will greatly intrigue you. Dr. Bühlmann is an Associate Professor of Social and Political Sciences and a Coordinator of the Swiss Elite Observatory (Obelis), at the University of Lausanne, in Switzerland. In this inter

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Sep 6, 20228 min read

Switzerland’s UNSC Membership: Interview with Fabien Merz about his Research on Swiss Foreign Policy

What does it look like to work within the fields of counter-terrorism and Swiss foreign policy, in Switzerland? If you aspire towards...

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Aug 9, 20228 min read

Call for Book Chapter Proposals: "UN/ORGANIZED: Interorganizational Cooperation & Crisis Management"

The vision and mission for this volume is to showcase a variety of academic/scholarly work that discusses the opportunities and...

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Jul 4, 20223 min read

Insights from Working in Afghanistan & Ukraine: Interview with Cristina Teleki, PhD

What does it look like to be an ICRC female Field Delegate in countries such as: Afghanistan, Ukraine, or Georgia? If you aspire towards a career in the humanitarian field or are curious to learn from the experiences of someone who chooses this honorable, important, and courageous life path, then the work and story of Dr. Cristina Teleki will greatly inspire you. Dr. Teleki is a legal scholar and a humanitarian professional whose academic research and practical work focus on

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

May 31, 202212 min read

Stronger Together: International Fundraising with Michel Fornasier Helps Give Children a Hand

What type of work can help children at the international level while successfully combining philanthropy, collaboration, and 3D printing?...

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Apr 25, 202212 min read

Swiss Education & Hospitality Industry: Interview with Anne-Sophie Delval, PhD

How is Swiss education perceived internationally and why do hospitality schools located in Switzerland choose to capitalize on this perception? In her recently published book, Dr. Anne-Sophie Delval not only answers the aforementioned questions, but also discusses and deconstructs what the concept of ‘international,’ “really means, and what it implies for organizations and individuals.” In this interview, you will be able to learn details about Dr. Delval’s book on the inter

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Mar 23, 202212 min read

How to Succeed in Academia: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics

Review and brief analysis of the academic advice offered to junior scholars by five academics interviewed by Persuasive Discourse.

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Mar 3, 20226 min read

World Politics & UN Peacebuilding: Interview with Sara Hellmüller, PhD

How does the emerging multipolar world order influence United Nations peacebuilding approaches? If you are an international relations scholar, a peacebuilding practitioner, or someone who wants to learn about current peace research, then Dr. Hellmüller’s work will greatly appeal to you. In this brief interview you will learn about: Dr. Hellmüller’s strategies to coin her research questions, the methodological approach she’s taking to structure and conduct her work, the unexpe

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Jan 18, 20226 min read

Afghanistan Governance: The Illusion of Political Inclusion & Stability

What is the political and security situation in Afghanistan today? While under the intense scrutiny of the international community, the...

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Dec 29, 20219 min read

Human Coding, Machine-Learning Techniques & Discourse Analysis: Interview with David Sylvan, PhD

Are you interested to learn about current research employing both human coding and machine-learning (ML) techniques, within the social sciences? If so, in this short interview, you will be able to read about Dr. David Sylvan’s reasons for undertaking such a methodological approach within his own research and the benefits/dis-benefits of utilizing human coding versus ML techniques to conduct discourse analysis within the field of international relations/political science. Dr.

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Dec 16, 20217 min read

Studying & Teaching Security Studies in Pakistan vs. the U.S.: Interview with Sannia Abdullah, PhD

Do you ever struggle with following the path on which your heart might lead you? If so, to help motivate and gently nudge you to follow your dream, here is a riveting and deeply personal interview with Dr. Abdullah, that shows how even amid the great challenges that life might bring, one must embrace uncertainty, persist in achieving their dreams, and confidently follow the path on which their heart may lead them. In this inspiring article you will read about Dr. Abdullah's p

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Nov 9, 20217 min read

The Spatial Turn in Peace & Conflict Studies: Interview with Annika Björkdahl, PhD

Have you ever wondered: Where does peace take place? If so, you are not alone and Prof. Björkdahl’s work is here to answer your question. In this brief interview you will learn about: the role and contributions of spatial analysis to peace and conflict research, how spatial features may be understood as “manifestations of peace and war,” that learning about the spatial approaches employed by “geographers of peace” is a useful undertaking for political scientists, and that und

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Oct 26, 20215 min read