From 21 to 25 October 2024, the NATO Defense College (NDC) ran the five-day Modular Short Course – Partner Integrated (MSC-PI), focusing on “The Global Security Environment and Drivers of Change”. This joint initiative brought together many of NATO’s partners , with participants from 17 different nationalities. Attendees, including colonels and senior officials, reviewed the fundamental processes shaping the 21st-century security environment and analysed key trends and drivers of change, exploring their significance for NATO’s (future) resilience.
During the one-week MSC-PI, participants explored critical topics such as energy security, space and human security. They began by reviewing assigned reading materials in small working groups, which set the stage for in-depth discussions. The Course featured lectures delivered by distinguished academics and military experts, who provided valuable insights into each subject. Following the briefings, participants engaged in interactive question-and-answer sessions, allowing them to probe deeper into the topics and exchange ideas with both the experts and their peers.
The special feature of this Course was a two-day exercise on “Strategic Foresight – NATO’s Risks and Challenges”. Strategic foresight analysis examines the key drivers shaping the evolving security environment. Course participants received briefings from experts on different foresight methods and engaged in group discussions to apply them to practical cases. Through this hands-on approach, they were able to experience how strategic thinking requires considering multiple complex factors in order to develop policies and concepts that are both relevant and effective, now and in the future.
Overall, the Course facilitated a shared reflection on the evolution of global security through practical exercises, group interactions and high-level expert briefings. The diversity of the group made for enriching collaborative discussions, enabling participants to enhance their understanding of NATO’s strategic role and of the common challenges faced by both the Alliance and its partner countries. The Course underscored the key factors shaping the evolving security environment and the critical role of strategic foresight in addressing these challenges.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Britt Melinga, NLD C)
NATO Defense College