21. Why Learn about International Security in 2024 and how?

In an era defined by conflict and rapid change, making sense of international security issues seems more difficult than ever. People feel overwhelmed by the daily news cycle chronicling global tensions and violence. With information sources plentiful but verification scarce, many no longer know what to believe about threats facing the world.

As a result, some are left wondering: in a time when long-held geopolitical norms appear to be breaking down and protracted fighting dominates headlines, is it still even possible to teach international security and build understanding? This episode will explore that very question. We'll discuss how educational institutions are adjusting curriculums and learning approaches to help navigate this climate of uncertainty and disruption. An interdisciplinary, skills-focused approach aims to give students the tools to cut through complexity.

By considering new security challenges alongside traditional state-based analysis, effective learning can and must continue in this field, as training well-informed, solutions-driven citizens remains critical amid the uncertainty. Join us as we shed light on contemporary efforts promoting expertise - and hope - for tomorrow's leaders.

I’ll be discussing this timely topic with Dr Stephan Davidshofer, Senior Lecturer at the University of Geneva’s Global Studies Institute and Dr Siobhán Martin, Deputy Director of Executive Education and Head of Advanced Course Development at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Stephan and Siobhan are both involved in the leadership and teaching of the Master of Advanced Studies in International Security, a programme jointly run by the University of Geneva and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.

Dr Stephan Davidshofer is a Scientific Collaborator II at the Global Studies Institute. Holding a PhD in International Relations from Sciences Po Paris, he is responsible for the scientific coordination of SiDlab, a joint research center on science diplomacy between the UNIGE and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) launched in 2021. In addition to his activities at GSI, he is also a course director and coordinator of the Master of Advanced Studies in International Security at the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP). His research and teaching activities focus on critical approaches to security, international relations theory, and globalization.

Dr Siobhán Martin is Deputy Director of Executive Education and Head of Advanced Course Development. Dr Siobhán Martin joined the GCSP in 2006, and her primary focus is on curriculum design, course development and delivery, in addition to outreach and research activities. She is currently the Director of the 8-month Leadership in International Security Course (LISC) and Co-Director of the Master of Advanced Studies in International Security (MAS), jointly run by the GCSP and the Global Studies Institute of the University of Geneva. She is also responsible for the development of GCSP’s Advanced Course series including the LISC, the European Security Course (ESC) and the New Issues in Security Course (NISC) as well as acting as Deputy to the GCSP’s Head of Executive Education. Siobhán has a PhD in International Relations/Political Science from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. Her research interests focus on strategic intelligence, international cooperation, ethics, leadership issues, and transnational threats.

References: David Graeber and David Wengrow, The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity (London: Penguin/Allen Lane, 2021) ; Pankaj Mishra, "The Globalization of Rage: Why Today’s Extremism Looks Familiar" b