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The Commons

The Knowledge & Learning Commons is the Library & Archives’ space dedicated to knowledge sharing and exchange on issues of multilateralism.

The Commons draws upon the diverse range of resources of the Library & Archives on the history and current state of international cooperation for peace, rights and well-being. We bring you a range of events, discussions, podcasts and interviews, online resource guides and more.

Latest blogs

This image shows two diplomats at an event at the UN Library & Archives Geneva, seated and looking at a TV screen featuring the word "Welcome" in several languages.

Celebrating Languages, Enriching Research: International Mother Language Day 2025

Linguistic diversity is essential for preserving and sharing knowledge, supporting multilateral diplomacy, and ensuring inclusive research. On this International Mother Language Day, celebrated each year on 21 February, we’re joining in efforts to highlight why languages matter for our world, and sharing how you can access our resources in many languages.

Past Events

This image shows a meeting of the Intellectual Cooperation Commission in 1922. Credit: UN Archives Geneva.

UN Historical Series Book Launch Event: Intellectual Cooperation at the League of Nations - Shaping Cultural and Political Relations

The latest publication in the UN Library & Archives Geneva UN Historical Series, Intellectual Cooperation at the League of Nations: Shaping Cultural and Political Relations, will be released in December 2025. Join us on Friday 5 December for an event that will introduce key themes and findings from the book, highlighting the latest historical research on questions that remain relevant today.

Explore Resources

This image shows the title "AI x Multilateralism" and the text: "A Dangerous Master" Revisited - AI, Ethics and Governance, as well as an image of the guest speaker, Wendell Wallach..

AI x Multilateralism - "A Dangerous Master Revisited": Wendell Wallach on AI, Ethics and Governance

This is AI x Multilateralism, a playlist at the UN Library & Archives Geneva where we’re joined by experts who help us unpack the many ideas and issues at the nexus of AI and international cooperation.  In this episode, we're joined by bioethicist and author Wendell Wallach, who shares his views on the ethics and governance of AI, the continued relevance of his books, what we can learn from bioethics, and the urgent need for oversight to align technology with human and environmental interests.
This image shows the title "AI x Multilateralism" and the text: "Can AI Predict A Crisis?" as well as an image of the guest speaker, Dr. Martin Waehlisch

AI x Multilateralism - Can AI Predict A Crisis? Dr. Martin Waehlisch

This is AI x Multilateralism, a playlist of conversations where we’re joined by experts who help us unpack the many ideas at the nexus of AI and international cooperation. In this episode we ask: can AI help us better predict, respond to, and recover from crises? We’re joined by Dr. Martin Waehlisch, Associate Professor of Transformative Technologies, Innovation and Global Affairs at the University of Birmingham. He’s also part of the Research Team of the Crisis Computing Project, a global community of scholars and practitioners who are driven to put computation to better use. 
This image shows the title "AI x Multilateralism" and the text: "Public AI: The New Multilateralism?", as well as an image of the guest speakers, Jacob Taylor and Joshua Tan.

AI x Multilateralism - Public AI: The New Multilateralism? - Jacob Taylor and Joshua Tan

This is AI x Multilateralism, a playlist of conversations at the Commons, where experts who help us unpack the many ideas and issues at the nexus of AI and international cooperation. Today, the majority of AI development and deployment is controlled by a small number of powerful firms. Is there another way, one where where AI serves the common good? Jacob Taylor and Joshua Tan make the case for Public AI: shared, open AI infrastructure that is publicly responsible and harnessed to solve collective problems.

About the commons 

Find out more about our mission and what we do at the Commons.

Francesco Pissano speaking
About Us

The Library & Archives launched the Commons in 2019 as a space for sharing knowledge on multilateralism.

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Participants at an event
What we do

The Commons provides a space to engage, exchange and learn through a range of in-person and online sessions, digital products and more.

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Library and Archives - colleague with books
Library & Archives

Since its founding in 1919 as the Library of the League of Nations, the UN Library & Archives Geneva has continued to evolve as a centre of research and international understanding. The Commons is a part of this evolution.Find out more about the Library & Archives.

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