Nunn and Cozzens among Global Thought Leaders Developing Recommendations to United Nations at 2015 Congress of Vienna

Posted November 24, 2015

In 1815 in the wake of a devastating series of wars, statesmen from across Europe met at the Congress of Vienna to devise plans for a peaceful balance of power in the war torn continent. Their work became a forerunner to the United Nations.

Two centuries later on October 22 - 24, 2015 and prescient to most recent terror attacks in Paris, a global refugee crisis, and with increasing threats to world stability, a new Congress of Vienna engaged thought leaders from around the world on three major challenges to global peace and stability: noncooperation among the major powers, forced migration, and economic inequality.

Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts faculty were among the distinguished and diverse invited participants who developed recommendations that will be presented at a public session of the United Nations in the spring of 2016.

Sam Nunn, distinguished professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was an invited delegate. Nunn gave remarks on the area of noncooperation among the major powers and worked with a group developing recommendations in that area.

Susan Cozzens, professor of public policy and Georgia Tech vice provost for Graduate Education and Faculty Development, was a leader on economic inequality topics. Cozzens wrote a background paper, “Technologies and Innovations: Contributing to Peace, Stability, and Fairness”, and led discussions.

“Delegates debated three profoundly important issues affecting our future on the planet,” said Cozzens. “The wide variety of perspectives illustrated that coming to agreement on the way forward on fundamental issues takes serious and continuing work. The Congress contributed to that process.”

As stated in its briefing notes, the Congress seeks to “encourage fresh thinking regarding the principles and rules governing the conduct of the major powers in order to develop durable solutions to the problems we face in a time of significant demographic, economic, and geopolitical change.”