Society & Us 6-week Course

Frances Valintine CNZM is a leading technologist and educator focused on the technologies shaping the world and impacting how we live, work and connect. She has led and founded multiple institutes of higher education and is currently the Chair of academyEX Group, an Australian and New Zealand postgraduate institute focused on qualifications and programmes for working professionals. Frances is also on the Board of the University of Silicon Valley; she is a recipient of the Flying Kiwi Award and an inductee to the New Zealand Hitech Hall of Fame. She was also recognised by the CIO Awards for her lifetime contribution to technology. In 2014, her organisation, The Mind Lab, won the Best Start-Up in Asia-Pacific award, as judged by Sir Richard Branson and Steve Wozniak. She has a Master's degree from the University of Melbourne and is an alumnus of the Singularity University.

Dmitry Zavialov is a political scientist, curriculum specialist, and educator specialising in international relations, political rhetoric, and human rights. Originally from Tajikistan, he holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago (New Zealand), an MA in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance from the University of Padua (Italy), and a Specialist degree (MA equivalent) in International Relations from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

He has extensive experience teaching university courses and contributing to academic research. He is the author of Whataboutism in International Politics: Russia and the UN Security Council (2008–2024), published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2025. Dmitry has professional experience across public, governmental, and international non-governmental organisations. He currently serves as a Learning Designer at Skills Institute in Auckland, New Zealand. He is also a lecturer at Free University, where he teaches a course on rhetoric in international relations, and a teacher of Public Speaking at Onehunga High School Adult Learning Centre. Beyond his core role, he leads community initiatives, including regular “Walk and Talk” meetups that promote conversation free from logical fallacies and manipulation.

SESSION: Abstract: Power, Ideas, and Persuasion: Understanding Global Politics in an Age of Narratives. International politics is not shaped by power alone. It is also influenced by the ideas, interpretations, and narratives through which political leaders, institutions, and societies understand the world. This talk explores how power operates in the international system while examining how rhetoric and political storytelling shape public perception of global events. Drawing on the history of international relations and several major theoretical perspectives, the session explains how states justify their actions, frame conflicts, and build alliances. Through accessible examples from contemporary world politics, participants will gain new tools for interpreting international developments and recognising the persuasive strategies that influence how global events are presented and understood.