Dr Martin Wählisch

Dr Martin Wählisch

School of Government
Associate Professor of Transformative Technologies, Innovation and Global Affairs

Contact details

Email
m.waehlisch@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Government/Computer Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Martin Wählisch is the inaugural Associate Professor of Transformative Technologies, Innovation, and Global Affairs. His work explores how emerging technologies and futures thinking can advance international relations, enhance peace processes, and drive sustainable development.

Qualifications

  • Dr jur in Public International Law, Humboldt University of Berlin 2014.
  • MA in Mediation, European University Viadrina 2008.
  • Visiting Fellowships at Columbia University, New York Law School, the University of Cambridge, Durham University, and the American University of Beirut (AUB), the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, and the Al Jazeera Media Institute.

Biography

Martin Waehlisch is the inaugural Associate Professor of Transformative Technology, Innovation, and Global Affairs at the University of Birmingham, with a dual appointment at both the School of Government and the School of Computer Science. 

Dr. Wählisch is a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Government (CAIG) and an affiliate of the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA).

He previously served for over a decade as a political adviser at the United Nations, including as Team Leader of the Innovation Cell in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. His work has focused on peace processes globally, particularly in the Middle East. 

His current research interests include technology for peace (PeaceTech), human-machine interaction (Virtual Reality), and futures thinking (Science Fiction) for public affairs. 

An expert in the geopolitics of artificial intelligence (AI), AI governance, digital peacebuilding and diplomacy, GovTech, and digital transformation, his research explores the intersection of emerging technologies and global policy. His work focuses on how AI shapes international relations, governance frameworks, and sustainable development.

Teaching

Executive Education in 'Technology for Public Affairs'

Postgraduate supervision

Dr. Wählisch is happy to discuss research proposals related to PeaceTech and digital diplomacy (AI, VR/XR), Science Diplomacy, GovTech and digital transformation, and futures thinking in public affairs.

Research

Research interests 

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government
  • Computational Global Affairs
  • Digital Diplomacy and Peacebuilding
  • Virtual Reality and Metaverse
  • Futures Thinking 

Current projects

Other activities

  • Research Fellow at the Weizenbaum Institute
  • Research Associate at the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF)
  • Associate at the Center for Peace Mediation and Institute for Conflict Management, European University Viadrina
  • Member of the International Studies Association (ISA)

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Wählisch, M & Kufus, F 2026, 'Structural dilemmas of PeaceTech: AI, power, and peacebuilding in the digital age', Peacebuilding. https://doi.org/10.1080/21647259.2026.2644694

Wählisch, M & Kufus, F 2025, 'Leveraging AI in peace processes: A framework for digital dialogues', Data & Policy, vol. 7, e65. https://doi.org/10.1017/dap.2025.10031

Hirblinger, AT, Wählisch, M, Keator, K, McNaboe, C, Duursma, A, Karlsrud, J, Sticher, V, Verjee, A, Kyselova, T, Kwaja, CMA & Perera, S 2024, 'Forum: Making Peace with Un-Certainty: Reflections on the Role of Digital Technology in Peace Processes beyond the Data Hype', International Studies Perspectives, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 185-225. https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekad004

Höne, K & Wählisch, M 2024, 'KI im UN-System: Zwischen Adaption und Innovation', German Review of the United Nations, vol. 72, no. 5, pp. 202-207. https://doi.org/10.35998/VN-2024-0022

Chapter (peer-reviewed)

Wählisch, M 2023, Why Collective Diplomacy Needs to Embrace Innovation. in PW Hare, JL Manfredi-Sánchez & K Weisbrode (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Diplomatic Reform and Innovation. 1 edn, Studies in Diplomacy and International Relations, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 505-519. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10971-3_25

Chapter

Wählisch, M 2024, AI and the Future of Mediation. in T Whitfield (ed.), Still Time to Talk: Adaptation and Innovation in Peace Mediation. Accord, vol. 30, Conciliation Resources, London, pp. 112-114. <https://www.c-r.org/accord/still-time-to-talk>

Conference contribution

Jarrar, M, Zaraket, FA, Hammouda, T, Alavi, DM & Wahlisch, M 2024, Lisan: Yemeni, Iraqi, Libyan, and Sudanese Arabic Dialect Corpora with Morphological Annotations. in 2023 20th ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications (AICCSA). Proceedings of IEEE/ACS International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications, AICCSA, IEEE, 20th ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications, AICCSA 2023, Giza, Egypt, 4/12/23. https://doi.org/10.1109/AICCSA59173.2023.10479250

Digital or Visual Products

Wählisch, M, PeaceTech: Wie XR bei den Vereinten Nationen zum Frieden beiträgt, 2025, Digital or Visual Products, Germany. <https://newrealities.podigee.io/68-xr-vereinte-nationen>

Wählisch, M, Exploring the Intersection of VR, AI and Diplomacy, 2024, Digital or Visual Products, United Nations, Geneva. <https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/exploring-the-intersection-of-vr-ai-and-diplomacy/id1469021154?i=1000678655378>

Editorial

Liiv, I, Verhulst, S, Tauchnitz, E, Giovanardi, M, Nicolaidis, K & Wählisch, M 2025, 'Data for Peace: How Novel Data Sources and Technology Can Enhance Peace?', Data & Policy, vol. 7, e45. https://doi.org/10.1017/dap.2025.10006

Other contribution

Wählisch, M 2025, Alexa, Please Show Some Emotion: When Machines Fake Empathy Better Than Humans. Weizenbaum Institute. <https://www.weizenbaum-institut.de/news/detail/alexa-please-show-some-emotion-when-machines-fake-empathy-better-than-humans/>

Langlois, L, Duberry, J, Wählisch, M, Perry, M, Toupin, S, Gaumond, È & Ramos, M 2025, Critical Conversations about AI: A Glossary for Big Questions and Bold Ideas.

Hansen, AS, Hansen, W, von Gienanth, T, Benkler, M, Pietz, T & Wählisch, M 2025, Five Trends in UN Peace Operations: And Five Calls to Action. Center for International Peace Operations. <https://www.zif-berlin.org/sites/zif-berlin.org/files/2025-02/ZIF-Study_5%20Trends%20in%20UN%20PeaceOperations.pdf>

Wählisch, M 2025, The Global AI Safety Divide: Why International Cooperation Matters More Than Ever. PublicTechnology.net. <https://www.publictechnology.net/2025/02/21/science-technology-and-research/the-global-ai-safety-divide-why-international-cooperation-matters-more-than-ever/>

Paper

Deeb, BA, Wählisch, M, Zaraket, F & Kurteva, A 2026, 'Conflict-sensitive large language models: Preparing AI for mediation in armed conflicts', Paper presented at The 8th International and Interdisciplinary Conference on the Quantitative and Computational Analysis of Text, Image, Audio, and Video as Data, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 23/04/26 - 25/04/26.

View all publications in research portal

Expertise

International Relations, UN, Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, AI, New Technologies, VR, AI Governance