The Diplomat's Cabinet

THE DIPLOMAT'S CABINET PODCAST | THE GENDER DIPLOMATIn the aftermath of the 2025 federal elections, Germany’s new coalition government, formed by the CDU/CSU (conservatives) and SPD (social democrats), published its coalition agreement — and with it, the quiet disappearance of feminist foreign policy from the national agenda. But what does this omission really signal? A full retreat, a silent shift, or a political rebranding?In this episode, we speak with Leonie Stamm, research fellow and gender, peace & security expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), to unpack why the "F word" may have been dropped from the coalition agreement, what this means for individual ministries holding feminist strategies — especially international development – and the fragility of equality agendas in times of war and militarisation.Subscribe to The Diplomat’s Cabinet newsletter. Follow on social media for updates and exclusive content.

THE DIPLOMAT'S CABINET PODCAST | THE POWER DIPLOMATJournalism is in crisis. But what if the antidote isn’t national — it’s local?In this episode of The Diplomat’s Cabinet, we sit down with political scientist and co-founder of The New Bedford Light, Daniela Melo, to talk about why local journalism may be democracy’s last, best hope.From the closure of community newspapers to declining trust in mainstream media, we break down how non-profit, community-driven newsrooms can rebuild credibility and civic engagement — and why this matters not just in the U.S., but globally.An urgent conversation on community, trust, power and the future of democracy — one city at a time.Subscribe The Diplomat’s Cabinet newsletter. Follow on social media for updates and exclusive content.

THE DIPLOMAT'S CABINET – WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY WITH DR. SARA CHEHAB | THE GENDER DIPLOMAT SERIESLet's talk about women in diplomacy.Women make up only 21% of ambassadors worldwide—a number that has barely changed in years. But beyond the stats, there’s a bigger issue: where these women are being posted.The 2024 Women in Diplomacy Index is an annual report that tracks the representation of women at ambassadorial level in 193 UN member states, analyzing data on more than 12,000 diplomatic posts around the world. Last year it revealed a troubling pattern—men continue to dominate ambassadorial positions in the world’s major geopolitical power centers.So what’s holding women back? And what will it take to achieve real gender parity in diplomacy?In this episode of The Diplomat’s Cabinet, Dr. Sara Chehab, Senior Research Fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the lead researcher behind the Index, joins to discuss.* The biggest barriers stopping women from reaching top diplomatic roles* Which countries are leading the way—and which are lagging behind* Why the location of female ambassadors matters as much as the numbers* The policy shifts needed to change the current realityRead the 2024 Women in Diplomacy Index: https://www.agda.ac.ae/Subscribe The Diplomat’s Cabinet newsletter. Follow on social media for updates and exclusive content.

In the very first episode of The Diplomat's Cabinet podcast (née as The Gender Diplomat), host Maria Luísa Moreira explores the phenomenon of the "glass cliff" with special guest Marissa Conway, a feminist activist and expert in foreign policy. As Kamala Harris steps into the U.S. presidential race under unique and challenging circumstances, we discuss whether her candidacy represents a historic opportunity or a precarious setup for failure. Listen to unpack the gendered and racial expectations placed on Harris, explore the implications of systemic bias, and consider how American voters might respond to a potential first female, biracial president.Further brain food on the glass cliff phenomenon:Financial Times: Why are women still being cast off the glass cliff?LSE: What Kamala Harris’ intersectional identity could mean for how voters evaluate her in the 2024 electionTEDx Sophie Williams: Why women and people of colour fall off the glass cliff