The five-day Study Period A2 on “The Changing Security Environment” consisted of lectures on the International Finance and Trade System, Religion and Conflict, Information and the Cyber-world, Media and Technology and Military Transformation. Senior Course 114 was joined by civil servants and officers from the IS, IMS, HQ SACT and SHAPE, who were attending a week-long Modular Short Course. The NATO Defense College runs these courses on a regular basis, in tandem with the 23-week Senior Course, to enable those who can only leave their offices for a limited time to enjoy the academic and professional challenges of NATO’s top-level academic institution in Rome.
The week started with very informative and complementary lectures on the “International Financial and Trade system”. Dr Mark ASPINWALL, a professor from the University of Edinburgh, introduced the topic and reflected on the international institutions, while Mr Alastair NEWTON, a Senior Political Analyst at Nomura International plc. assessed the most current strategic changes and the economic crisis. The topic, a most relevant one today for dealing with the changing security environment, was presented by eminent experts in an academically rewarding and vivid way. Course members also benefited from the plenary Q&A and small group discussions.
The week continued with “Religion and Conflict”, another very sensitive and challenging topic. Dr Gilles KEPEL , a Professor and Chair of Middle East and Mediterranean Studies at the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), an eminent scholar in this area, delivered an informative lecture on the contemporary evolution of conflicts related to Islam, a topic of great relevance to NATO, which generated an intense and profitable Q&A session.
For the first time at the NDC, the subject of “Information and the Cyber-world” became part of the curriculum. Ms Heli Tirmaa-Klaar, a Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Defence in Estonia, provided a thorough overview on the topic from a political scientist’s perspective. Course members had the benefit of a most informative lecture and rewarding discussions on why and how the Allies and partners should improve institutional and international cooperation in this field.
Another day of the week was devoted to Media and NATO’s Public Diplomacy. The topics were presented by Dr Stefanie Babst, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, and Dr Nik Gowing, main presenter of BBC’s 24-hour international TV news and information channel, BBC World News. The lectures provided fascinating insight into the changing media environment and how NATO is adapting itself to it. The speakers initiated a lively exchange of views during both the Q&A period and the committee work.
The week ended with a lecture by the Dean of the NATO Defense College, Dr Grant T. Hammond , who discussed new technological achievements and their implications for security and defence matters. He emphasized the significance of today’s rapid technological improvements, the broad availability of related knowledge and the use of space by the Alliance.
Prepared by Col Ferenc MOLNAR (HUN A)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN