European Security at a turning point? Trends and Themes in Defence (Dis)Integration

This workshop focuses on defence contestations, debates and potential transformation within European countries as well as the EU and NATO. Understanding the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a critical moment, the workshop will hone in on recent developments in European security and defence triggered by both external and internal catalysts including concerns regarding the US security guarantee arising from the upcoming Presidential election, the rise of populism and the threat this poses to the European security order, as well as conflicts in the border regions. Key questions emerge including can the EU’s fledgling capability improvement processes be scaled up? Is strategic autonomy viable? What consequences are there for Europe’s security architecture and the delicate EU-NATO relationship? Will states work together or reassert national security prerogatives?

We will also be hosting an in-person roundtable on ‘Understanding Key Developments in Contemporary European Security’, focused on some of these themes. Speakers include Ambassador Jitka Látal Znamenáčková (Deputy Head of the Czech Permanent Representation to the EU Permanent Representative to the Political and Security Committee) Dr Jamie Shea (Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey and former Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO), Prof Amelia Hadfield (University of Surrey) and Dr Natasha Kuhrt (Kings College London).

We welcome research papers focusing on the following issues:

• European countries’ security and defence policies, and responses to the current security issues.
• Regional European institutions’ role and initiatives in defence, including the EU and NATO.
• External perspectives, demands and policy on European security.
• The role of the European defence industry and challenges and issues arising.

We are open to papers from a range of different theoretical and methodological approaches. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. Presenters are asked to attend in person.

We also have three bursaries of £350 each to provide assistance to PhD students and Early Career Researchers to attend the conference in-person. These will be allocated on a competitive basis, judged on the quality of the abstract. If you wish to be considered for one of these, please indicate this in your application.

To apply to present at the workshop please submit an abstract (maximum 250 words) via the form here: https://forms.gle/ovfNigmHf5wmw4Sp9.

The deadline is Friday 22 March. If you have any questions, please contact Dr Laura Chappell l.chappell@surrey.ac.uk.