The Cocktail Circuit

T MacArthur, a professor and co-director at UC San Diego, shares her experiences working at the UN in Geneva. She highlights the importance of informal gatherings, like cocktail parties, in driving real diplomatic work and negotiations. MacArthur discusses her role in observing disarmament conferences and creating policy briefs to aid advocacy efforts. She emphasizes the behind-the-scenes dynamics of international treaties and the influence of informal discussions on official proceedings.

What was the primary setting where Professor MacArthur discovered significant diplomatic work was done?

• Public seminars

• Press conferences

• Cocktail parties

• Formal UN meetings

Which treaty was frequently renegotiated at the Conference on Disarmament?

• Nonproliferation Treaty

• Chemical Weapons Treaty

• Biological Weapons Treaty

• Paris Agreement

What was the nature of the formal UN proceedings according to MacArthur?

• Unstructured and chaotic

• Highly spontaneous

• Casual and informal

• Pre-translated and formal

During which period was the Nonproliferation Treaty up for reevaluation?

• Early 2010s

• Late 2000s

• Mid 1990s

• Early 1980s

What was MacArthur's task after attending the cocktail parties?

• Writing press releases

• Conducting interviews

• Drafting policy briefs

• Organizing future events