Pathfinders • Mar 29, 2023

Women and Public Diplomacy (Eric Luce Lecture): Dr. Odeta Barbullushi

How a small country had a large impact on an international humanitarian crisis

In August 2021, Albania took in over 3,000 Afghan evacuees, seeking safety from the new Taliban regime. This decision demonstrated that small countries can mitigate humanitarian crises and that they can build new solidarities and partnerships in the process. In this Luce Lecture, Dr Odeta Barbullushi explains the interplay between foreign policy decision-making, humanitarian crisis, and state identities. Drawing from her own experience, Dr Barbullushi reflects on women’s contributions to international mediation as well as the role of education in shaping decision making in foreign policy.