The Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonnafont, has been working in diplomacy for over 30 years. Students from the Model United Nations (MUN), who are experiencing diplomacy, had the opportunity to engage with him. Following this exchange, the press team had the honor of being granted an interview.
The students participating in FerMUN (Ferney MUN) took part in a unique workshop organized on May 15, where they had the opportunity to discuss and learn from French diplomat and ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont.
Jérôme Bonnafont’s impressive diplomatic career began in 1986 and has taken him all around the world, from New Delhi to New York. Whether working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, serving as a spokesperson for the Elysée Palace, or as France’s ambassador to different countries, Mr. Bonnafont has demonstrated his monumental level of expertise in diplomacy. On Wednesday, May 15, he shared his wisdom with the MUN club of the Ferney-Voltaire International High School. The students, already passionate about diplomacy and international relations, had the chance to deepen their knowledge of the diplomatic world and its workings through a dialogue with Mr. Bonnafont, guided by Adrienne Husny, our Secretary-General.
From education to security, all aspects of the diplomatic career were addressed. Mr. Bonnafont’s published book, Diplomate pour quoi faire ? (Diplomat, for what purpose?), was read by many students, which gave them the opportunity to ask questions about specific concepts covered in the book. Furthermore, many students had the chance to have their copies signed by Mr. Bonnafont after the dialogue. The press team was then given the opportunity for an in-depth interview with Mr. Bonnafont. Continue reading to dive into the interview!
Do you think clubs and associations like FerMUN are effective in engaging young people in diplomacy?
“Projects like FerMUN introduce young people to the world, allowing them to understand that others think and act differently,” says Mr. Bonnafont. Whether you become a diplomat or not, FerMUN allows you to acquire valuable skills by immersing yourself in the situation that real diplomats face: adaptation. You need to adapt your various skills, including creativity, knowledge, and discipline, to succeed at MUN. Whether in debates, interpretation, or writing an article, you learn to utilize your skills to be as productive, efficient, and effective as possible.
Among all the roles you have held, which one left the biggest impact on you?
“It’s hard to say because a diplomatic career leads you to change your life and responsibilities every three or four years,” says Mr. Bonnafont, who has held dozens of different professional roles as a diplomat. For him, “each role is a new adventure to live […]. Some are easier, of course, others more difficult.” A diplomat faces a colossal challenge: they must adapt to the economic and political circumstances of a country or region, whether it’s a dictatorship or a democracy, economic prosperity or recession. Even though some experiences can be negative and others positive, as long as you maintain curiosity about these events, you’ll realize that these memories – good or bad – are irreplaceable.
Do you believe that, in the current geopolitical situation, the world can survive without diplomacy?
As regrettable as it may seem, war still rages in all parts of the world. Therefore, a diplomat must “try to foresee upcoming conflicts, minimize the negative effects of ongoing conflicts, and plan for reconciliation.” Contrary to what many people think, diplomacy is not just about war; many important issues debated at the international level today concern economic exchanges, climate change, and migration. These discussions require “teamwork between diplomats who know how to maintain international relations and experts specialized in their fields,” emphasizes Mr. Bonnafont.
What advice would you give to a young person who wishes to become a diplomat?
“You need to be driven by curiosity about the world […], having a genuine desire to discover the world,” says Mr. Bonnafont. For the experienced diplomat, “diplomacy is fundamentally the search for how our societies work and how they interact.” This curiosity is essential for understanding the events happening around us and knowing how to act.
(End of the interview)
Needless to say, the workshop allowed MUN students to enrich their diplomatic knowledge, which will be useful for the upcoming Mock MUN conference. The event, scheduled for June 12, will allow participants to explore new roles in the MUN diplomatic world!