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Northwestern Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

students giving Wildcat claw in front of city on mountainSera Young in Kenya speaking with local government officialsstudents on work site with gloved hands in yellow liquid

The Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs advances research and teaching about the world beyond the borders of the United States.

We are a beacon for cutting-edge international scholarship and global engagement across Northwestern’s twelve undergraduate, graduate and professional schools.

News and Announcements

Undergraduates stand on stage giving a speech during the peace simulation.

Recap Video | Negotiating Peace: Student Diplomacy Simulation

The final installment of the Roberta Buffett Institute's yearlong international diplomacy series was an interactive peace conference simulation that charged Northwestern undergraduates with taking ...
Although peace negotiations are often greeted with relief, they also represent a fork in the road. A badly-crafted agreement may be worse than no agreement at all. Rushed peace deals store up trouble for the future, fueling more intense and widening conflicts.

Recap Video | Buffett Symposium on Negotiating Peace in a Multipolar World

Watch the short video recap of our Buffett Symposium on Negotiating Peace in a Multipolar World organized with Fundación Acordemos. We convened diplomats, negotiators, and academics to examine the ...
Journalists and subject matter experts gather for a workshop at Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law to learn about SMART’s capabilities and offer feedback on the tool.

Empowering Journalists to Decode Social Movements: The Buffett Global Working Group Behind New AI System

The Buffett Institute’s AI & Social Movements Global Working Group brings together experts from engineering, law, and the social sciences to understand how ethically to leverage AI in tracking soci...

Upcoming Events

Buffett Lecture | Global Security Challenges: A View From Down Under

October 1, 2025, 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
720 University Place

Professor John Blaxland of the Australian National University will explore how today’s strategic challenges, from gre...

Buffett First Friday Lunch | Long Term Decisions in Historical Perspective with Bruce Carruthers

October 3, 2025, 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
720 University Place

Long-Term Decisions in Historical Perspective: Seeds, Stone Arches, Trees, Wealth, & Hot Waste Join the Roberta Buffe...

Information Session: Elliott Scholars Program

October 14, 2025, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
720 University Place

Are you an undergraduate student passionate about international or community development? Interested in gaining hands...

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