Within professional and academic circles, the idea of "brain drain" has long been a topic of discussion, generating arguments from a variety of angles.
In essence, it describes the movement of highly qualified people from underdeveloped to developed areas. Initially, the countries affected by this occurrence were thought to have lost out on important information and experience. While some studies contend that brain drain severely impedes the development of the nations of origin, others suggest that its impacts might not be as bad as previously thought, citing possible advantages including more investment in education.
With insights from our speakers, we will be delving into the complex processes of brain drain in this episode. Helen Dempster, the Deputy Director and Policy Fellow at the Center for Global Development's Migration, Displacement, and Humanitarian Policy Program; David Lelu, a legal expert specializing in migration at the IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa; and Professor Adams Bodomo, an authority in African Linguistics and Literatures at the University of Vienna.

Tune in to understand the motivators of food related insecurity, the historical roots of Western responses to global food insecurity and how policies can be built to encourage food stability around the world.

According to the commonly recognised definition, which was stated in 1996 at the Food and Agriculture Organisation-hosted World Food Summit, food security is the guarantee that each person has constant access to food that is both affordable and safe in addition to being healthful. Despite this, a startling number of communities throughout the world face difficulties in meeting their basic nutritional demands or obtaining regular access to food. 

This definition establishes a high bar, considering a country to be food secure only when all its residents have regular access to a sufficient supply of safe, wholesome food that allows them to lead active, healthy lives, both financially and physically.

Join our conversation with guest, Eilish Zembilci, affiliated with the World Food Program USA, the CSIS Global Food Security Program, and Duke University, who shared her insights into Food Security and its geopolitical implications. And hear from the perspectives of Isabelle Tsakok, Economist and Consultant on Agriculture and Rural Development, and Alexander de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Join us on another insightful episode of Thinking Across Latitudes as we embark on a journey into the heart of Climate Change and Security in the Sahel. In this episode, we explore the evolving concept of climate security, the lens through which global actors are increasingly examining the intricate relationship between climate change, peace, and security. 

Delving into the nuances of this paradigm shift, the speakers shed light on how climate change is now perceived not only as an environmental challenge but also as a critical factor influencing global peace dynamics. The discussion highlights the far-reaching impacts of climate change, including its potential to induce competition, the weaponization of natural resources, and its immediate social consequences, particularly for vulnerable communities. 

But amidst the challenges, the episode unveils a beacon of hope — an African-led initiative called the Great Green Wall of Africa. This ambitious project seeks to address climate insecurity by actively engaging communities in Africa. The vision is captivating: an 8,000-kilometer-long, 15-kilometer-wide wall of trees, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, cutting across the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert. Fatima Aliyu Magaji, Nigerian climate activist and our guest on the episode explores the significance of this green barrier, its potential to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts, and the collaborative efforts underway across 11 African countries. 

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted relationship between climate change and security and discover how initiatives like the Great Green Wall are pioneering innovative solutions to safeguard communities and ecosystems in the face of a changing climate. This episode is a compelling exploration of the intersection between environmental sustainability, peace, and global cooperation. 

This episode features in-depth conversations with Javier Cantero, Spanish Diplomat, Fatima Aliyu Magaji, Youth Champion for the Nigerian National Agency for the Great Green Wall and Maiga Attaher, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Country Representative in Ivory Coast.

As the world witnesses a period of disruption marked by Great-Power rivalry and increasing insecurity, Southern Atlanticism serves as a catalyst for greater cooperation and representation in global affairs. By amplifying the voices and interests of countries of the “New South” this concept challenges the current narrative of Western dominance, paving the way for a balanced multipolar world order.  

New alliances have begun to emerge assuming different stances from the West, passing through Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a turning point for regional actors from the New South to adopt a non-aligned position and avoid choosing sides, giving ground to the idea of multilateral cooperation with Atlantic partners north and south.   

Join us for the first episode of Thinking Across Latitudes as we delve into the concept of Southern Atlanticism and its implications for our polarized world.  

This episode features in-depth conversations with Len Ishmael, former Ambassador of the Eastern Caribbean States to the Kingdom of Belgium and European Union and Ian Lesser, Vice-President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Through captivating conversations, we explore the historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and prospects of the other transatlantic relations. 

Episode Highlights: 

[00:00] Introduction 

[02:44] South Atlanticism Who’s talking to who? 

[09:20] Decolonial Past and Non–aligned Present    

[23:43] Multilateral Future?   

[27:02] Foresight on Transatlantic relations