Study Period F – Regional Issues, Part Two: NATO’s worldwide geo-political Interests, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Between 5th and 8th and 26th and 28th June 2012, Senior Course 120 continued its in-depth study of major geographical regions on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) territory and beyond, from a general global perspective as well as from the NATO point of view. Particular emphasis was placed on regional (and global) stability or instability, and what this meant for the Alliance. During the academic programme, a series of visiting experts offered their thoughts on Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Central, North-East and South Asia.
The second part of SP F started with a session on Sub-Saharan Africa. Two qualified panellists, Dr. Greg Mills from South Africa, Head of the Brenthurst Foundation, and Andrew STEWART, from Great Britain, Senior lecturer in Defence Studies and Land Historian in the Defence Studies Department at King’s College, London, discussed the complex challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa and, indirectly, the Alliance. Violence, political turmoil and uncertainty are rife in many parts of the continent, compounding the problems of inequality, food insecurity, climate change and lack of jobs for the young. The two speakers offered a comprehensive analysis not only of the continent’s enormous potential, but especially of the risks in the years ahead, arising from the variety of issues and challenges that have to be addressed by the international community and by the peoples of the African continent.
Two of the Study Period sessions were devoted to the Middle East. The visiting lecturers were Prof. George Joffé from Great Britain, Prof. Ibrahim SOUSS, a French citizen of Palestinian origin, and Mr Yossi Mekelberg, an Israeli/British citizen. The Middle East is an area of global strategic importance that faces huge challenges, including modernization and reform, the development of basic democratic and human rights, education and literacy, the reduction of poverty and the need to manage an upsurge of Islamic radicalism. The discussion on the likely outcome was particularly interesting in the light of the protest movements calling for political reform in the Middle East and North Africa. Against this background Prof. Joffé offered an in-depth analysis of present and future security issues and challenges in the region. Prof. Souss and Prof. Mekelberg examined one of the longest-lasting and at the same time most explosive of all the world’s conflicts in more detail, the conflict between the Israel and the Palestinians, helping the audience to understand the wide range of underlying issues.
Dr. Shirin Akiner, an “Honorary Ancien” of the NDC, provided Course Members with a detailed analysis of the five Central Asian states, putting into perspective the differences and the commonalities as well as the challenges ahead. She assessed the risk of further deterioration in the economic and security climate in Central Asia and her lecture greatly enhanced the Course Members’ understanding of the region and triggered a lively discussion.
The world’s centre of gravity is shifting from the Atlantic to the Asia – Pacific region. The lecture focusing on China, Japan and the Koreas was delivered by Dr. James Boutillier, special adviser to the Canadian Maritime Forces and an “Honorary Ancien” of the NDC. He explained why the region is increasingly important and considered the changing political geometry of the area, the rise of China and the relationship between Beijing and Washington, as well as relations with other regional players. The rise of China is a phenomenon that can be considered either an opportunity or a challenge. North East Asia can no longer be seen as a remote and isolated region: developments there impinge on the West in every way and should therefore be observed closely. Dr. Boutillier’s lecture, as always, gave Course Members profound insight into the subject matter and an understanding of the region and its importance for the international scenario.
The speakers on South Asia, covering Pakistan and Afghanistan, were Dr Samina Ahmed, Project Director for South Asia at the International Crisis Group, Islamabad, Pakistan, and Dr Joseph Collins, Professor of National Security Strategy. Sources of instability in the region include bitter inter-state and intra-state conflict, nuclear and missile proliferation, terrorism, religious extremism, separatism, demographic pressures and drugs. Both speakers agreed that the international community should be concerned by the internal tensions in Pakistan, as they could impact on future developments and also on the security situation in Afghanistan. As this topic is of great concern to NATO, it triggered lively interaction between the Course Members and the panel.
The Senior Course academic program ended with a lecture on India, one of the world’s oldest democracies and an economic giant vying with China. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Cooperation, New York University. During the last decade India has emerged as a major power and has experienced remarkable economic development. It plays a key security role in South Asia. The Senior Course discussed the complexities of state affairs and security challenges in India, as well as in the region as a whole.
Overall, it was a highly rewarding academic program, with a range of thought-provoking and stimulating lectures which provided an introduction to some of the important issues in the regions discussed. The NATO Defense College and the Senior Course were privileged to be addressed by such a distinguished group of high-level experts. It was an excellent opportunity not only to enhance understanding of regional issues, but also to consider contemporary security concerns in an era of global interdependence.
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