December 10, 2025
SIU’s Paul Simon Institute hosts leading diplomat to discuss global challenges
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Jan Eliasson, a former Swedish and United Nations diplomat, will join Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on Wednesday, Dec. 17, for a virtual discussion on the state of the world in 2025 and challenges facing the international system.
Eliasson will join John Shaw, institute director, in giving his assessment of global affairs. The free, public discussion via Zoom begins at 10 a.m.; registration at paulsimoninstitute.org/events is required to view the conversation.
The event is part of the institute’s “Understanding Our New World” discussion series.
Eliasson was a career Swedish diplomat and served as an adviser to the prime minister and his nation's ambassador to the United Nations, ambassador to the United States, deputy foreign minister and foreign minister.
Eliasson served in more high-level U.N. positions than anyone in that organization’s history. He was a special adviser to the secretary-general, president of the U.N. General Assembly, a special envoy to Darfur, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and deputy secretary-general.
“Jan Eliasson served at the pinnacle of global diplomacy for decades,” Shaw said. “He knows everyone, has done everything and understands the nuances of all of the most important global issues.
“We are eager to hear his views on the Trump administration’s foreign policy, the war in Ukraine, climate change, the role of the U.N., the civil war in Sudan and many other international topics."
Shaw has written two books about Eliasson. “The Education of a Statesman: How Global Leaders Can Repair a Fractured World,” released in 2024, examines Eliasson’s career, and “The Ambassador: Inside the Life of a Working Diplomat,” released in 2006, chronicles Eliasson’s work as Sweden’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Eliasson on the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu.
More information, including a list of the institute’s upcoming events and past speakers and events, is available.