The multilateral system is facing its most serious crisis in 80 years. Growing nationalist and polarized movements are actively working to undermine global institutions by exploiting democratic systems, yet there is a lack of coordinated response to effectively counter these movements.

In this episode, we are joined by Giancarlo Summa, researcher and former Director of the UN information centers in Brazil, Mexico, and West Africa, to explore the impact of these attacks, the motivations behind them, and the implications for international cooperation. Despite the scale of the challenge, there are ways to push back. By recognizing the threat, strengthening alliances, and adapting strategies, the multilateral system can become more resilient and continue driving global progress.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Karima Cherif, UNRISD Head of Communications and Outreach, speaks with Dr. Lata Narayanaswamy, Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development at the University of Leeds. They unpack the evolution of anti-gender movements and how they co-opt the language of human rights and development to legitimize regressive, exclusionary agendas in global policy spaces.

Dr. Narayanaswamy illustrates how anti-gender actors position themselves as defenders of religious freedom and the “global South,” while simultaneously undermining gender and LGBTQIA+ rights. She discusses the sophisticated discursive strategies these movements employ—blending academic authority, institutional participation, and populist storytelling to gain influence. By tracing the colonial continuities underpinning contemporary anti-gender ideologies, this episode calls for a decolonial, justice-driven reimagining of rights and development that challenges inequality at its roots and reclaims the narrative space.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is funding the backlash against women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights in Europe, and why? In this episode, we sit down with Neil Datta, Executive Director of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, to unpack the financial networks fueling anti-gender movements. Drawing from his groundbreaking report Tip of the Iceberg, Neil reveals the key players, funding mechanisms, and ideological motivations behind these well-coordinated efforts. We also discuss his forthcoming publication The Next Wave and explore strategies for mobilizing progressive change to push back against the rise of anti-gender and illiberal movements across Europe.

Profile photo (c) Ludvík Hradilek, Deník N

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.