How to Defend Europe? Military, Economic, and Political Defense

Europe’s security is being tested on several fronts at once. Large-scale war has returned and there is growing uncertainty about long-standing alliances. Critical infrastructure faces attacks, democratic societies face disinformation, and economic dependencies are turned into leverage. Defending Europe is no longer only a military task. It also depends on economic strength, resilient infrastructure, technological capability and robust democratic institutions. And it forces hard choices about how to balance them.

This event brings together researchers and leading policymakers and is organized by the Kiel Institute, ESMT Berlin and the Leibniz Research Network Security and Resilience Research. The central question is how Europe can defend itself, and what we can learn from science.

Keynotes:

• Joschka Fischer, Former German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor
• Sauli Niinistö, Former President of Finland, 2012-2024

Central panel: What can the social sciences contribute?

• Nicole Deitelhoff, Executive Director, Leibniz Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), and Professor of International Relations, Goethe University Frankfurt
• Sabine Kurtenbach, President, GIGA German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Hamburg
• Maren Röger, Director, Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO), Leipzig
• Moritz Schularick, President, Kiel Institute for the World Economy
• Moderation: Jörg Rocholl, President, ESMT Berlin