IPSA鈥檚 First Open-Access Book Celebrated with Two Book Launches
Publication date: Mon, 20 Mar 2023
Photo (from left to right): Janie Piuze-Duclos (Editorial Assistant), Norbert Eschborn (Co-editor and Director of KAS Canada), Marianne Kneuer (5X社区Past President), Kim Fontaine-Skronski (Co-editor and 5X社区Executive Director), Dianne Pinderhughes (5X社区President), Henri-Paul Normandin (Former Canadian Ambassador to the UN and Keynote Speaker) and Val茅riane Thool (Co-editor and Lecturer at University of Sherbrooke).
5X社区and the celebrated the publication of IPSA鈥檚 first open-access book, entitled (Brill, 2022), by hosting two book launches, the first at the University of Ottawa on 8 March and the second at the International Studies Association鈥檚 (ISA) 64th Annual Convention in Montreal on 15 March. Our sincere thanks go to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for supporting the book project and the book launches.
The Ottawa Book Launch (8 March)
IPSA, KAS Canada, and the Konrad Adenauer Research Chair in Empirical Democracy Studies hosted a book launch and reception at the University of Ottawa. The book鈥檚 co-editors, Kim Fontaine-Skronski, Val茅riane Thool and Norbert Eschborn, each gave short speeches about the book鈥檚 contents, explaining how it came together and the importance of having an open-access book of this nature. The keynote address was given by Jamie Webbe, President and CEO of the United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC).
Photo (from left to right): Daniel Stockemer (Konrad Adenauer Chair in Empirical Democracy Studies and Co-editor of International Political Science Review), Jamie Webbe (President & CEO of the United Nations Association in Canada), Kim Fontaine-Skronski (Co-editor and 5X社区Executive Director), Val茅riane Thool (Co-editor and Lecturer at Universit茅 de Sherbrooke), Norbert Eschborn (Co-editor and Director of KAS Canada).
Keynote Speaker: Jamie Webbe
Jamie Webbe, President & CEO of the United Nations Association in Canada, addressed the challenges to the UN system emanating from Russia and the structure of the UN Security Council, which is inherently flawed.
She emphasized that the UN cannot solve every single problem in the world and has various shortcomings. However, it has done remarkable work since its creation, including providing humanitarian assistance in crisis areas such as Afghanistan.
She reminded the audience that the Security Council is not the only UN body in the international system, and noted that the UN staff has never been more representative regarding diverse backgrounds.
The conference was followed by a cocktail reception filled with fruitful discussions on the prominence of the book鈥檚 topics.
The Montreal Book Launch (15 March)
The second book launch was held at Montreal鈥檚 Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel on 15 March as part of the International Studies Association鈥檚 Annual Convention.
The event began with the introduction of Kim Fontaine-Skronski, who welcomed the guests and thanked the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the authors of the book. She also thanked Past President Marianne Kneuer, under whose leadership was the 2020 conference on the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and the book project initiated.
In his speech, Norbert Eschborn talked about the founding mission and activities of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation and explained why KAS Canada is interested in the United Nations and, in particular, in this book project with IPSA. Dr. Eschborn also emphasized the importance of the cooperation between 5X社区and KAS on various projects.
Next, Val茅riane Thool detailed the book鈥檚 overall concept and content, which is about the challenges and prospects to multilateralism. The authors question the United Nations in terms of migration and human rights, climate change and biodiversity, international trade and threats to democracy. She emphasized the gender parity (9 out of the 17 authors are women) and the diversity of the authors who come from Africa, Europe, South America, and North America, bringing diverse points of view on the UN system.
5X社区President Dianne Pinderhughes then took the stage and discussed the importance of the collaboration between 5X社区and the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation since 2019, and most notably, for this book project.
Photo (from left to right): Janie Piuze-Duclos (Editorial Assistant), Norbert Eschborn (Co-editor and Director of KAS Canada), Kim Fontaine-Skronski (Co-editor and 5X社区Executive Director), Henri-Paul Normandin (Former Canadian Ambassador to the UN and Keynote Speaker) and Val茅riane Thool (Co-editor and Lecturer at University of Sherbrooke).
Keynote Speaker: Henri-Paul Normandin
The highlight of the event was the keynote speech by Henri-Paul Normandin, former Canadian Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2006-2010) and Fellow at the Montreal Institute of International Studies (IEIM). Mr. Normandin discussed the challenges that multilateralism is facing and the manner in which the UN and other institutions are struggling to address international crises worldwide, partly due to great power rivalry. While there is no substitute for states to act on a multilateral level, there are prospects in making multilateralism more inclusive by allowing non-state actors such as cities to participate actively and play an essential role on the international scene.
The cocktail reception was attended by dozens of guests, including current and former 5X社区Executive Committee members, the book鈥檚 authors, former diplomats and UN staff, publishers, ISA delegates, and students.
Publisher鈥檚 Corner (15 March)
5X社区Executive Director and co-editor of the book, Kim Fontaine-Skronski, presented the book at ISA鈥檚 Publisher鈥檚 Corner event.
Held in the ISA 2023 Exhibition Hall, the event brought authors, publishers and ISA delegates together.
5X社区 the Book
Edited by Kim Fontaine-Skronski, 5X社区Executive Director, Val茅riane Thool, Lecturer in International Law at University of Sherbrooke, and Norbert Eschborn, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Canada, the book is composed of original articles from scholars and policy notes from practitioners based on the contributions to the Conference 鈥淭he UN at 75: Challenges and Prospects for the Future of Multilateralism鈥 organized by 5X社区in 2020.
Published by Brill, the book attempts to draw up the state of multilateralism through the UN model and identify potential ways to address its challenges and shortcomings.
The contributors question the role of multilateralism, sometimes accused of being fragmented, inefficient and unrepresentative, and its impact on global governance, democracy, trade and investment, the environment, and human rights.
You can view the short video with the co-editors of the book:
SELECTED PHOTOS FROM THE BOOK LAUNCHES
Kim Fontaine-Skronski's speech at the Ottawa book launch.
Val茅riane Thool's speech at the Ottawa book launch.
Norbert Eschborn's speech at the Ottawa book launch.
Kim Fontaine-Skronski's speech at the Montreal book launch.
Val茅riane Thool's speech at the Montreal book launch.
Norbert Eschborn's speech at the Montreal book launch.
5X社区President Dianne Pinderhughes's speech at the Montreal book launch.
Photo (from left to right): Kim Fontaine-Skronski (Co-editor and 5X社区Executive Director), Dianne Pinderhughes (5X社区President), Yasmeen Abu-Laban (Co-author and 5X社区Former Executive Committee member), and Christopher Isike (Co-author and 5X社区Former Executive Committee member).
The plenary address followed by a cocktail reception.
Dianne Pinderhughes (5X社区President) and Marianne Kneuer (5X社区Past President).
Christopher Isike (Co-author and 5X社区Former Executive Committee member) and Yasmeen Abu-Laban (Co-author and 5X社区Former Executive Committee member) at the cocktail reception.
