In the complicated world of global diplomacy, certain cities are considered the epicenter of international cooperation. Geneva and Vienna are two such cities; the hubs of multilateralism. Let’s find out what makes these two European countries so significant and why the most important matters of the world are often deliberated and decided here.
A Legacy Deeply Rooted in History
The role of Switzerland’s city of Geneva in multilateral diplomacy dates back to 1918, when it became the headquarters of the League of Nations, which was the first major global attempt to achieve lasting international peace.
After World War II, the city again became the host of the second-largest center of the United Nations, also known as the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG); the first being the UN headquarters in New York.
The diplomatic tradition of Vienna goes back to 1815 when it became the center of the Congress of Vienna, a key international bloc for cooperation between the major European powers, which redrew the map of Europe after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, and laid the groundwork for regional diplomacy.
Vienna again gained international prominence during the Cold War, when it offered a neutral ground for dialogue between the East and the West. In 1955, Austria permanently declared neutrality, making Vienna a reliable location for negotiations and dialogue between the rival blocs.
Neutrality holds a significant place and offers a rare space where diplomacy can flourish without political pressure.
Home to Major International Organizations
Geneva houses the headquarters of more than forty international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and International Labor Organization (ILO).
Whereas Vienna hosts several international organizations that deal with the challenges to international peace and security, energy regulation, nuclear non-proliferation as well as crime prevention. Organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are headquartered in Vienna.
Both Geneva and Vienna were the venue when important international treaties were signed and negotiations held, including the Geneva Accords (1954) which concluded the First Indochina War, the iconic Geneva Conventions which remain a cornerstone of international humanitarian law, Iran nuclear talks under the banner of the IAEA, and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II).
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Hosting such high-stakes diplomacy has cemented their reputation as reliable cities for building global consensus.
Other than Switzerland and Austria, several other countries have also declared neutrality in case of a global conflict. Some of these countries include Serbia which declared neutrality in 2007, Singapore (since 1965), Ghana (since 2012), Mongolia (since 2015), Rwanda (since 2009), Uzbekistan (since 2012), Turkmenistan (since 1995), and Japan (since 1947).
Geneva and Vienna are not just geographically convenient meeting points, they are also the pillars of the multilateral world order. In a world of intensifying geopolitical tensions and fractured international dialogue, the role of these two cities as trusted diplomatic hubs is more vital than ever. They represent what the world can achieve when they prioritize cooperation over conflict and diplomacy over differences.
Javaria Khalid is a writer and researcher, who specializes in Pakistan's Foreign Policy Analysis, transatlantic geopolitics, and Pakistan’s relations with the European countries and the EU. She can be reached at javariakhalid011@outlook.com
