It is with deep sorrow that I learned of the passing of Dr. Pierre Baillet, former Permanent Secretary of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), undoubtedly one of the figures who most profoundly shaped my personal and professional growth.
Reflecting on the decisive influence he had on the practical evolution of city diplomacy, I hope he will forgive me from above for using the English term “civil servant,” which has no exact equivalent in French. During the fifteen years he led the AIMF, he devoted himself entirely to advancing the common good, without ever seeking recognition. Dr. Baillet always left “his” mayors to receive credit for the countless policies and projects he inspired. A keen observer of the human spirit, encouraging solidarity, cooperation, and critical thinking, Dr. Baillet was a voice of conscience—almost, I dare say, austere—inspiring mayors and municipal leaders who often drew much-needed and urgent guidance from him.
An academic by training, he was a pioneer of the demanding yet fruitful alliance between municipalities and universities. By urging scholars to see the city not merely as an object of study but also as a place of engagement, he skillfully wove their analyses and proposals into the AIMF’s agenda. In a message I sent him the day before his departure—which he never received—I told him that at the recent international conference of city diplomacy researchers held in Barcelona, we discussed the exceptional nature of this approach and how valuable it would be for other international city networks to draw inspiration from it.
The immense void left by his departure is filled by the legacy he entrusted to us. His ideas continue to resonate, not only in the testimony of those who, like me, were fortunate to work alongside him, but also in the many publications he patiently shaped, foremost among them “Raisonnance“, the AIMF’s magazine where mayors, experts, and scholars come together to explore the present and future of cities. This rich body of thought and these calls to action will, I am certain, continue to inspire those who share Dr. Baillet’s deep conviction in the capacity of cities to make the world a better place.
With gratitude and respect,
Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi
City Diplomacy Lab Director
Paris, June 2025