Lectures

by Professor Laeed Zaghlami Algeria has implemented a soft power approach, which has been exercised through the use and implementation of some of Algeria’s geostrategic dimensions. In the case of the security and political dimension, Algeria has been fighting against terrorism and calling for criminalization of ransom, and this has been implemented in the Algiers mediation process, which separates North Mali inhabitants’ social, economic and cultural demands from terrorist groups as represented by Al- Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Movement for Unity or ‘Oneness’ and Jihad in Western Africa (MUJAO) and other organizations. In the economic and financial dimensions, Algeria has participated in developing the northern region through …

by Veronika Datzer Since February 2022, methods of disinformation as well as cyber operations have been widely used as extended measures of warfare in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The talk will make an assessment of the use of disinformation and cyber operations and the policy responses which have been used or are under construction. The discussion focus will lie on disinformation and cyber operations in Europe, with a discussion of the tools used by Ukraine, Germany, the EU, and NATO. Ultimately, the talk will discuss the role of hybrid threats in Germany’s national security strategy, which is currently being written.

By Manual Atug Manuel ‘HonkHase’ Atug, founder and speaker of the independent WG KRITIS deals in this presentation with the dangers the globalized world is facing due to the technological progress and digitalization of the last decades. The military methodologies and objectives of hybrid warfare will be presented. The specifics and dangers in cyberspace are addressed, as well as whether there is a cyberwar. State and non-state actors alike are included in these considerations and illustrated with examples of current day politics. Finally, it will be explained what can be done about it and why the issue affects all of us in cyberspace. (Without subtitles) (With subtitles)

by Dr. Georg Löfflmann, University of Warwick (g.lofflmann@warwick.ac.uk) Three days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared in the Bundestag that the war constituted a watershed moment or “Zeitenwende” for European security and that as a consequence Germany would initiate a fundamental turnaround in its foreign, security and defense policy. This strategic reorientation would entail, among other things, a 100 billion Euro special investment fund for the Bundeswehr and the pledge to finally fulfil the NATO 2% target. Taking the “Zeitenwende” rhetoric as its starting point, this paper will analyze to what extent Germany has indeed initiated a structural reboot of its national security posture, considering …

by Dr. Reza Parchizadeh Abstract: For more than a decade, the Islamist regime in Iran has been facing mounting domestic and international crises that in most likelihood it won’t be able to withstand in the long run. This will eventually force the regime to consider a “metamorphosis” not unlike the one that the former Soviet communist system had to undergo to partly survive. While Russia reverted to ultranationalism from communism, Iran, based on increasing evidence, is likely to revert to the same from Islamism. My prediction is that if Iranian democratic forces are not able to create a unified pluralistic front, and if the US and the rest of the …

By Benjamin Tallis, German Council on Foreign Relations The mantra of Western unity in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine conceals a major schism. On one side are politicians and societies that embrace a new hard-edged, forward-looking idealism in (geo)politics. On the other, disregarding nativists and populists, are two groups: the first, like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, seem stuck in the recent past, clinging to the untenable (Neo-)Liberal Internationalist status quo ante bellum; the second, like French President Emmanuel Macron, sometimes appear too eager to put the ‘great game’ of power politics ahead of liberal and democratic ordering.   The new idealism’s standard-bearers include Estonian and Finnish Prime Ministers Kaja …

By Theresa Fallon The impact of Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine has accelerated China-Russian cooperation in the field of energy, maritime security and space. The lengthy war has also had the unintended consequence of potentially weakening the Kremlin’s position in Central Asia, while some frozen conflicts are defrosting in Europe’s neighborhood. Putin’s choices have made Russia a much weaker partner in the Sino-Russian relationship with one analyst describing Russia as a vassal state to the People’s Republic of China. What do these shifting geopolitical developments mean for Europe? (Without subtitles) (With subtitles)

Jo Zayner   In May of 2020, only a few months after the covid outbreak was declared, I created and manufactured an open source covid vaccine and I administered it to myself. I never got sick. It took over a year from the time covid-19 shutdown the world till a vaccine was publicly available and in that time millions died. In fact, many are still dying due to lack of vaccine rollout and people’s dependence on governmental organizations to feel secure has been in vain. Experts predict that during our lifetime we will face another global pandemic. How do you plan to survive?  (Without subtitles) (With subtitles)

  Schoresch Davoodi   A Revolution in making? The current events in Iran and its consequences The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently in a series of crises. The Islamic government in Tehran has faced more challenges since the end of the war with Iraq in 1988. Insecurity and the inability to respond to these crises only exacerbate the problems it has created itself. In addition, the world is changing and the year 2023 needs different answers than recipes and slogans from a bygone era. The current protests in Iran are currently supported by broad sections of the population than was the case in the past. In contrast to the …

by Alexis Roussel Every human evolves today in multi-dimensional physical and digital environment. If each individual is to keep its individuality and autonomy in its daily choices, it must be protected and given effective tools to defend its own autonomy. Recognizing that human life has been digitally extended must question ourselves on what makes us human today. Should personal data be considered as component of the person, rather than objects that can be owned by whoever collects that data? Should our digital integrity be protected? If each human person already has a right to physical and mental integrity (Swiss Constitution article 10 al.2), shouldn’t it have a right to digital …