SIE
School for International Education

New Geographies of Global Risk

The current moment appears to be characterized by a proliferation of risks of every sort, with threat scenarios entering new geographical spaces and new domains: from the hard military, to the digital, to the economic. We are increasingly witnessing the ‘weaponization of everything’: from infrastructures to economic flows, to cyberwarfare and (dis)information.

This two-week Summer School offers a unique opportunity to reflect on how understandings of global risk are changing in today’s world and to develop an appreciation of how states and other actors are attempting to secure geopolitical and geoeconomic risk, with a particular focus on maritime spaces. Taught in collaboration between Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Italian Naval Staff College, the Summer School provides students with the rare opportunity to engage with expert lecturers coming from a range of disciplinary perspectives and backgrounds, in the unique context of the Venice Arsenale.

Programme 2024

Programme Dates: July 1 - 12, 2024

Programme Structure

Lessons and workshops are scheduled over 2 weeks, from July 1st to July 12th, 2024.

Beginning with an overview of the bases of geopolitical and geostrategic thought, we will consider how traditional understandings of war, conflict and risk more broadly have changed in the past decades, and in particular since the Covid-19 pandemic and the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We will discuss new domains of conflict and competition, and the new strategies being developed by states and transnational actors such as the European Union to govern insecurity and risk. We will consider, furthermore, how such new strategies aim to face the attempts of both state and non-state actors threatening to disrupt the global order and global flows.

Another unique feature of the Summer School is its applied aspect. Participants will, indeed, have the chance to apply these insights in practice by developing their own projects as part of a ‘country profile’ of their choosing. The lectures will thus be accompanied by workshops aimed at guiding students through the development of their projects, including training in presentation skills. The country profile projects will constitute the final assessment for the Summer School and will be presented on the last day of the course at a public exhibition at the Italian Naval Staff College, located in Venice’s historic Arsenale.

Prerequisites

Students should be currently studying the following subjects at University level (or have graduated within the past two years): History, Geography, Area Studies, Economics, Politics and International Relations or Strategic Studies. Applications from students from other subject areas will nonetheless be considered, and may be accepted at the discretion of the Teaching Committee.

Programme Directors

  • Prof. dr. Luiza Bialasiewicz, Professor of European Governance at the University of Amsterdam
  • Dr. Francesco Zampieri, Ph.D., Lecturer and Research Coordinator at the Italian Naval Staff College

Teaching Staff

The teaching staff includes the two programme directors and the following lecturers:

  • Prof. Rocco Bellanova, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • Lieutenant Commander Davide Ghermandi, Italian Naval Staff College
  • Commander Luca Pegoraro, Italian Naval Staff College
  • Prof. Gerard Toal, School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Polytechnic

Applications, Fees and Arrival Information

Applications

Applications for the Summer School in New Geographies of Global Risk are open until April 21st, 2024.

The Call for Applications with details on fees and on the application process is available on this webpage.

Any information on pre-departure, accommodation and our campus will be made available at the same webpage as above.

Fees

Tuiton fees: €800

Students enrolled in a partner university might be eligible for a €100 discount. For eligibility criteria please read the Call for Applications once it has been published.

N.B the tuition fees do not cover accommodation.

Arrival Info

All pre-arrival information will be made available on this webpage and via email.

Contacts

 summerschool.international@unive.it

Last update: 06/11/2024