Crafting Global Narratives – Strategic Communications for Multilateralism

Stories shape our understanding of the world. In the policy realm, stories become strategic narratives: powerful tools that shape perceptions, influence international debates, and inform decisions. The European Union has long championed multilateralism as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, using strategic narratives as a form of soft power to foster collaboration and reinforce its leadership in global governance. Yet in today’s increasingly complex landscape, competing narratives — often advanced by authoritarian actors — are challenging the EU’s effectiveness.

This event in Berlin is the first in a global series of dissemination events organized by the ENSURED project, which will take place in 11 cities worldwide. It marks a pivotal moment in the project’s work. Having already produced two rounds of in-depth research on topics such as climate, trade, migration, health, and human rights, ENSURED is now embarking on a new phase, one focused on identifying opportunities for transformation in global governance and comparing the potential for reform across policy areas. A key part of this phase involves examining the strategic narratives that shape the EU’s engagement in multilateral cooperation.

At the event, panelists will present initial findings from this narrative research, offering a broad overview of how such narratives function across the EU’s global engagement. To ground this discussion, we will then zoom in on two case studies: one thematic, focusing on strategic narratives around trade governance, and one regional, examining how Germany, a key EU member state, crafts and communicates multilateral narratives in diverse global contexts.

But this is not only a dissemination moment, it is also a consultative one. The event will provide space for open dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s advocates of multilateralism. Participants will be invited to offer feedback and help shape the project’s ongoing research, including the development of policy tools aimed at supporting European decision-makers.

Join us for a dynamic evening on the power of storytelling in global governance, where our panel of experts will explore the EU’s current narratives, examine their impact, and ask:

• How can strategic political communications bolster more effective, robust, and democratic global governance?
• How does the EU currently frame its role in multilateral governance — and where are its narrative strengths and weaknesses?
• What lessons can we learn from ongoing multilateral debates, such as on trade governance?
• How are member states like Germany shaping their own multilateral storytelling — and to what effect?

Our panelists include:

• Sophia Armanski (Head of Division for Strategic Communication at the German Federal Foreign Office)
• Clara Weinhardt (ENSURED Deputy Project Coordinator, Assistant Professor in International Relations at Maastricht University, and Non-Resident Fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute)
• Amanda Pridmore (ENSURED Communications Work Package Lead and Project Manager at the Global Public Policy Institute)

Host or Publisher ENSURED