The Department of Law, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), organized an academic program titled “Peacebuilding in an Eroded Rule-Based World” on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. Held from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Media Studio, AIUB, the program brought together faculty members and students for an engaging discussion on contemporary challenges to international peace, security and the rules-based international order.

The distinguished speaker was Dr. Marc Raphael Dietrich, Program Manager, Nexus, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, whose professional experience spans international cooperation, governance, peacebuilding, and conflict-affected contexts. Dr. Marc has previously worked with the United Nations, the European Union Advisory Mission, and the OSCE in Ukraine and has served in senior governance and peacebuilding roles in South Sudan. His academic work focuses particularly on international political theory and peacebuilding.

In his lecture, Dr. Marc examined how the erosion of international rules and institutions complicates contemporary peacebuilding efforts. Drawing on his practical and academic experience, he highlighted the limitations of purely state-centred approaches to conflict and explored the importance of individuals, communities, institutions, and normative principles in preventing and resolving conflict. His scholarship on Crimea and the Donbas similarly advances a cosmopolitan approach that places individuals and universal principles at the centre of peacebuilding.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Robayet Ferdous Syed, Head of the Department of Law, observed that although international laws, rules, and institutions exist to promote peace and regulate relations among states, their effective implementation remains inadequate in many parts of the world. Referring particularly to the Russia–Ukraine and Israel–Palestine conflicts, he highlighted the continuing gap between the existence of legal and normative frameworks and their practical implementation. He stressed that peacebuilding requires not only the existence of laws and institutions but also genuine political commitment to uphold and implement them.

The Registrar of AIUB Group Captain (Retd) Dr. Mohammad Zahidul Islam Khan, in his remarks, particularly highlighted the politics of voting within the United Nations and other international forums, explaining how voting patterns and geopolitical interests can shape international decision-making and influence the global response to conflicts. He emphasized how geopolitical considerations can shape positions taken in international forums and, consequently, influence the implementation of international norms and the collective pursuit of peace. He further stressed that Bangladesh should always take a principled stance in favour of peace and humanity, remaining committed to the peaceful settlement of conflicts and the protection of human dignity.

The Vice Chancellor of AIUB, Professor Dr. Saiful Islam and the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Md. Abdur Rahman, graced the program with their presence. Prof. Dr. Taslima Monsoor, Advisor to the Department of Law, along with other faculty members, was also present at the program and participated in the academic exchange.

The program concluded with an interactive exchange among the speaker, faculty members, and students, providing an opportunity to reflect on the practical challenges of sustaining peace in an increasingly fragmented international environment. The discussion connected contemporary global conflicts with broader questions of international law, governance, human rights, conflict resolution, and multilateral cooperation. The session also highlighted the importance of effective implementation of international legal frameworks, political commitment, and a sustained dedication to peace, humanity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The program was arranged by Dr. Robayet Ferdous Syed, Head of the Department of Law, with Rostoma Begum Chaudhury, Assistant Professor, Department of Law and Rawnak Miraj Ul Azam, Lecturer, Department of Law, contributing to its organization. The session was moderated and conducted by Delara Hasan Ananna, Lecturer, Department of Law, who served as the Master of Ceremonies.