Nathan Williams JP (Australia)
The International Peace and Security Institute’s 10th Hague Symposium began with a dinner at the Rootz Restaurant attended by esteemed guest speaker Justice Richard Goldstone. Justice Goldstone was the first Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and Rwanda (ICTR). Over dinner, Justice Goldstone entertained students with his personal narrative on the international political and legal constraints at the time including the background to his appointment on the recommendation of His Excellency Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa. I had the pleasure of asking Justice Goldstone about his most challenging or prolific moment in his position as a lawyer and prosecutor. He explained to me his most rewarding time was as a lawyer in South Africa and some of the structural ways he opposed systemic apartheid within the legal framework of the time. Students enjoyed Justice Goldstone’s openness to discuss not only the advantages but also the limitations of international law.
The following morning, the 4th cohort of the IPSI Hague Symposium gathered at the Student Hotel before beginning our short cycling tour and bus ride for our first day at the Clingendael Institute. Upon arrival, students were greeted with a red carpet and welcomed by staff followed by a walking tour and commentary of the picturesque gardens and building, once occupied by the Nazi Party during WWII; fitting of a manor used to promote the craft of international relations. This particularly interested me in terms of the ways that European nations were exploited to advance the political agenda at the time.
The curriculum overview provided by Cameron and Kate demonstrated IPSI’s unique ability to combine academia, world-class speakers, and authentic simulations to promote experiential learning. The overview of the program certainly looks both exciting and challenging. The quality of speakers is obvious in their willingness to keep speaking with students after official lectures and presentations have concluded; their competence to provide multiple perspectives on a single issue and to extend student’s thinking. I am thankful that some speakers have been willing to provide their business card for further discussion after the symposium – which was not expected!
Our breakout groups proved fruitful with every student embracing the opportunity for honest, rigorous discussions about ‘wicked problems’. The diversity and student-led conversations have already placed participants in good stead for the three weeks ahead. Our breakout group have already formulated clear democratic and friendly ways of keeping everyone included and supported, and this was evident in our first one or two conversations, where it was obvious and humbling that some participants felt comfortable to talk from the heart on certain conflict situations they’ve learned about or experienced first-hand.
I have already found the presentations on curriculum, international justice, the ICC and particular conflicts, as well as informal chats among other students extremely beneficial for formulating my 2hr Peer to Peer Session next week on Security. IPSI’s Hague Symposium from day one, appears to be the perfect ‘marriage’ between theory and practice. I feel blessed to have met so many esteemed professionals and inspiring young people who show a passion for so many of the world’s greatest problems. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you more deeply, and to see how you take what is learned from the symposium back home afterwards. Thank you to the staff and fellow participants for making our first two days memorable!
