111 | Adapting our Global Institutions to Today’s Challenges

Dr. Nina Hall is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Relations, where she studies the global organizations that preside over issues of climate change, migration, and displacement. She often writes about refugee rights and global migration, with articles ranging from the examination of whether social media is a platform for either supporting or attacking refugees, to analyzing whether the UN Global Compact for Migration is a breakthrough.

Beyond her role as an educator, Dr. Hall is an advocate for more diverse voices on New Zealand’s role in the world. She co-founded the independent organization, Te Kuaka (formerly New Zealand Alternative), which promotes a progressive role for New Zealand in the international sphere. She also co-edited the book, Beyond These Shores, Aotearoa and the World, and outlined how the country’s Labor-led government could rethink its foreign policy on gender equality, aid, and indigenous relations. Articles related to her advocacy include comments on New Zealand’s proposed humanitarian visa for climate refugees, on what a  progressive foreign policy would look like for the country, and on Jacinda Ardern’s visit to the United States.

Increasingly, Dr. Hall writes about the use by organizations of digital tools and platforms to advocate for issues across national boundaries. Most recently, Dr. Hall wrote a book examining how transnational advocacy is changing the digital era. More specifically, the book looks at how activists are using digital tools and tactics to collaborate across national boundaries. Although these activists tackle many global issues—such as climate change, trade, and refugees—she finds that they predominantly target the nation-state in their campaigns. 

We were fortunate enough to catch up with Dr. Hall on Social Design Insights, where she discussed her work and the pantheon of international agencies that shape refugees and migration. Have a listen at the link above!