Transatlant Security in Crisis

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This jointly taught in-person course examines the Euro-Atlantic security environment in the wake of the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has triggered profound geopolitical disruption and effectively ended the post-Cold-War peace dividend in Europe. The course focuses on NATO, the European Union, and the evolving state of transatlantic relations against the backdrop of Russia’s aggression and growing strains within the transatlantic partnership. The course begins with a comparative assessment of the Euro-Atlantic security landscape at the end of the Cold War and the current strategic environment, highlighting continuities, ruptures, and missed assumptions. It then turns to an in-depth examination of NATO’s and the EU’s institutional roles, political and military responses, and strategic adaptations, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Central to the course is an analysis of how these developments are reshaping transatlantic security, including the threat perceptions and policy choices of key actors across NATO and the EU. Internal dynamics within NATO and the EU, as well as the implications of domestic political developments in the United States and major European countries, will be critically assessed to better understand evolving attitudes within the Western security architecture. Coursework includes readings, lectures, and discussions covering: The changing Euro-Atlantic security paradigm; NATO's and the EU’s institutional characteristics; The strategic orientations of key Euro-Atlantic actors; Areas of convergence and tension in US and European threat assessments, and their implications for the future of transatlantic security; and, Deterrence and collective defence in response to traditional and emerging threats. The interplay between U.S. leadership, European strategic autonomy, and intra-European perspectives constitutes a recurring theme. The course includes a simulation/war game based on a scenario involving a Russian invasion of a NATO Ally, exposing students to alliance decision making procedures, escalation risks, and response options under real world political, military, and strategic constraints.