The International and Global Studies (INST) program in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will host a lecture on "UN Diplomacy in Times of Geopolitical Turmoil," presented by Karl Lagatie, ambassador and deputy permanent representative of Belgium to the United Nations. The talk will be on Dec. 4, 2023, from 9:40-11 a.m. in the Student Success Center (CORD) 349.

Lagatie will look into the UN's role during times of geopolitical turmoil. On the eve of the Russian invasion in February last year, the Kenyan ambassador to the UN commented that "Multilateralism lies on its deathbed tonight." After the horrific Hamas attacks on Israel and the Gaza war that followed, many criticized the UN and particularly the UN Security Council. It is clear that our rules-based international order is under high stress. How can the UN function when a permanent member of the Security Council blatantly violates the UN Charter? How does the Ukraine and Gaza war affect the Global South and the Western sphere of influence? What role can a small country like Belgium play in the midst of a geopolitical power struggle? And isn't the UN in desperate need of a thorough reform?

Lagatie is the current deputy permanent representative of Belgium to the UN in New York. He previously served as spokesperson for the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels (2018-2021) and worked at the Belgian Embassy to the United States of America (2014-2018) in Washington, D.C. From 2010 to 2014, he was assigned to the Belgian Mission to the UN in New York, where he mainly dealt with sustainable development issues.

Before entering the Belgian Foreign Service (October 2009), Lagatie held short-term positions at the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the OECD in Paris (2008-2009), where he worked on energy issues (IEA) and green growth, and at the European Commission, DG Trade (2007-2008). He started his career as a trainee at the EU Trade Policy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the European Union (2006-2007).

For questions about this event, please contact Dr. Ka Zeng, INST director (email: kzeng@uark.edu).