Natolin Second Semester Study Trips 2024/2025: "Security in a New Geopolitical Context"
From 27 April to 2 May 2025, three groups of Natolin students of the Jacques Delors Promotion departed for their second semester study trips to explore the overarching theme of "Security in a New Geopolitical Context". The destinations and topics explored during the trips were:
Nordic-Baltic Study Trip: "Russia's War of Aggression in Ukraine and the State of Defence, Deterrence and (In)Security in the Nordic-Baltic Area"
The #TeamNordic-Baltics study trip addressed broadly conceived problems of regional and wider European security and defence within a long-term geopolitical framework, with a central emphasis on defence and strategic aspects. The principal problems were those of ‘hard’, ‘soft’ and ‘hybrid’ security threats (including conventional and nuclear forces, hybrid and classical military deterrence, societal resilience and cyber- and information security), the rapid change of the Nordic-Baltic security environment, as well as deep-rooted questions of national and local identity faced with a resurgent imperial mission of Putin’s Russia.
All this in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted security landscape in the Nordic-Baltic region by exploring historical geopolitics, current defence and security cooperation, prevailing threats and narratives, strategic interactions, defence enhancement efforts, and recent research on regional challenges such as cyber and information security.
To facilitate real-time study of these issues, the voyage included visits to academic, cultural, and professional institutions in the Baltic region (Estonia) and the Nordic region (Finland).
Western Balkans Study Trip: "Seeking Momentum amidst New Security Challenges and Geopolitical Struggles for Influence"
The #TeamWesternBalkans study trip offered the students an in-depth exploration of the Western Balkans’ political, social, and cultural landscape, with high-level meetings, academic discussions, and field visits in both Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia.
From dialogues with EU officials, diplomats, and parliamentarians to expert-led panels on civil liberties, religious diversity, and external geopolitical influence, the trip provided participants deepened reflections on memory, identity, and democratic development.
The experience bridged institutions and lived realities, providing unique platform for students to deepen their understanding of the region’s complexities and its evolving place in Europe.
Tunisia Study Trip: "Into the EU Southern Neighbourhood: Tunisia, where Heritage shapes Aspirations and Relations"
The #TeamTunisia study trip provided Natolin students with a comprehensive exploration of Tunisia’s rich cultural heritage, key historical developments, and their ongoing impact on the country’s relations with the EU and its neighbours. Participants engaged with government officials, civil society organizations, and local communities, gaining insights into the socio-political transformations sparked by the 2011 uprising and how these events continue to shape Tunisian society today.
The trip also examined Tunisia’s evolving relationship with the European Union, focusing on cultural, economic, and regional cooperation, as well as migration and security challenges. Through discussions with local experts, students deepened their understanding of how Tunisia’s historical legacies and socio-political dynamics influence its interactions within the MENA region and with Europe.