'European Security 2.0: Reassessing Security after Munich

This workshop focuses on European Security in a changing security environment. A particular focus will be on transatlantic relations. For some time, the U.S. has shifted its focus away from Europe toward the Indo-Pacific and considers China as its key strategic competitor, increasing pressure on the EU to invest in European security. At the same time, the EU is faced with the administration of U.S. President Trump who is sceptical of multilateral cooperation and international institutions – including of NATO and the EU and has expressed support for illiberal actors within the EU. Simultaneously, new tensions in transatlantic relations have emerged on a series of foreign policy issues related to NATO, Ukraine, technology, trade, and China policy. These developments raise important questions, including can the EU strengthen its international actorness to meet key challenges in security and defence? 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?

The workshop will serve as a forum for discussion and debate among academics and practitioners and we will also consider possibility to work towards a joint publication.  

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 (defined by UACES as the first three years after the award of your PhD) to attend the conference in-person. If you are eligible and wish to be considered, please fill in that section of the form.

 To apply to present at the workshop please submit an abstract (maximum 250 words) via the form here: https://forms.office.com/e/aLaDv1Bj2b

The deadline for proposals is 23/3/25. If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Patrick Müller Patrick.mueller@univie.ac.at