ICIP, in collaboration with CIDOB, organised the webinar series Rethinking Security in Europe, a set of five online sessions aimed at reflecting on militarisation, deterrence and current challenges in European security in a context marked by the war in Ukraine, the genocide in Gaza, rising military expenditure, and the redefinition of international alliances.
The series sought to create a space for critical debate on the tensions between security, democracy, human rights and peacebuilding, addressing questions such as how security is defined and delivered, which actors are involved, and what alternatives exist beyond strictly military approaches.
The sessions took place between 7 May and 3 June 2026 and featured experts and representatives from international organisations including the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, International Institute for Peace (IIP), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), PAX, Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), Rethinking Security UK and SaferGlobe.
You can find the program and the speakers’ biographies at this link.
Sessions
7 May 2026 – The militarisation of security in Europe
With Mary Kaldor (London School of Economics) and Tutku Ayhan (IBEI).
13 May 2026 – Whose insecurity? Objects of European security
With Pol Bargués (CIDOB) and Wilbert van der Zeijden (PAX).
22 May 2026 – Who Rules? Security decisionmakers
With Richard Reeve (Rethinking Security), Josephine Dresner (MAG) and Joseph Maïla (ESSEC).
28 May 2026 – How is security provided? Budget allocation and instruments
With Clément Meynier (MAG) and Cristina Parandii (PAX).
3 June 2026 – Creating security beyond the military: What Else?
With Maria Mekri (SaferGlobe), Hannes Swoboda (International Institute for Peace, IIP) and Andrew de Sousa (QCEA).