Russia’s war against Ukraine, uncertainty in transatlantic relations, and intensifying global strategic competition have shattered the European security order and place significant pressure on Europeans’ strategic thinking and collective action. As a response, the European Union is revising its security strategy whilst national governments also are under stress to reconsider their strategies for security and defence. How does one renew strategy documents in a time of uncertainty and high volatility in a way that enables strategic action beyond immediate crisis reactions and responses? What role do strategy revising processes play in changing and solidifying strategic cultures at the national and European level?
The seminar brings together leading European scholars and experts of strategic culture and security and defence in a panel discussion focusing on the European security strategy revision processes. The seminar takes place amidst STRAX final conference – The New Generation in Strategic Culture Research, which marks the culmination of the Research Council of Finland -funded research consortium bringing together Tampere University, Finnish Institute of International Affairs and the National Defence University researchers.
After the panel discussion, the participants are invited to stay for the launch of the STRAX manual on strategic culture. The manual serves as a practical toolkit for military officers and security and defence planners in Europe to better understand strategic culture and how it shapes their work and cooperation. Participants are also welcomed to explore conference posters featured in the seminar venue.
Programme
09:00 – 10:30 Panel discussion
Opening words:
Hanna Ojanen, project leader, STRAX
Panel discussion:
Nathalie Tocci, Director, Istituto Affari Internazionali and Professor of Practice, SAIS Europe
Sven Biscop, Professor, Ghent University and Acting Director-General of Egmont, Royal Institute of International Relations
Lars Schümann, Captain Navy, Executive Coordinator, Office of the Chairman of the EU Military Committee
Jyri Raitasalo, Brigadier General, Chief of Logistics, Defence Command
Moderator:
Tommi Koivula, Professor, National Defence University
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 11:15 The role of military education: Presentation of the STRAX European Manual on Strategic Culture
Speakers:
Tommi Koivula, Professor, National Defence University
Antti Seppo, Researcher, National Defence University
Fergal Ó Regan, Head of the European Security and Defence College
Moderator:
Hanna Ojanen, project leader, STRAX
