The Senior Executive Seminar (SES) offers a forum for an international group of policy makers to explore a current international security issue in depth. Participants include high-level government officials, general officers, senior diplomats, ambassadors, ministers, and parliamentarians. The SES format is based on presentations by senior officials and recognized experts followed by discussions in seminar groups.

The 2008 sessions will be dedicated to the broad topic of The Impact of Migration and Terrorism on Security and National Identity in Europe and Beyond. By considering migration and terrorism as different aspects of a broader theme, the complex interdependencies in international and networked security are more easily understood.

Participants may attend only one session, but those who attend both sessions will gain maximum benefit from wide-ranging discussions on these two key issues in international security. They will also develop a collegial understanding of potential cooperative efforts that could improve future international security efforts. During both spring and fall sessions, the nexus of migration, terrorism, and security will dominate discussion.

The spring session will analyze current and emerging transnational challenges and security trends. What significance do these trends hold for the immigrants and the countries in which they settle? Following a broad overview of the current migration flows, their root causes, and the perspectives of migration, we will examine how migration challenges internal and international security. In a globalized environment, migration creates intricate interdependencies among the international community that international governance must manage on numerous levels. After considering various national experiences and assimilation strategies, we will discuss various approaches that several countries have implemented to handle the migration issue. Finally, we will discuss specific aspects of migration that pose the greatest security challenges; attempt to define which migration and immigration policies are successful; and determine which conditions are most conducive for success.

The second SES will delve deeper into the general security context of migration. This more specialized seminar will concentrate on the linkage between migration and international terrorism, particularly the aspect of terrorist recruitment. The essence of the session will be to understand the impact that immigration policies have on terrorist recruitment in western societies. Are we facing a problem of cultural values (“alien cultures”) or are we looking at a reverse dynamic: communities that have become alienated because of current policies? Thus, terrorist recruitment will be placed in the context of the effectiveness of immigration policies: How do current policies exacerbate the perception of cultural differences and foster greater alienation among the second and third generation immigrant communities?

SES participants return home with a deeper awareness of key issues that influence national, regional and international security, the factors that shape national security strategy, and the components of cooperative security in an interdependent world. Participants, from diverse backgrounds and experiences, develop a common understanding of the many challenges to 21st century security: conventional, irregular, catastrophic and disruptive. They join a collegial network of thousands of graduates spanning Europe, Eurasia, North America and the rest of the world. Members of this community will influence and guide their nations in the coming decades. Graduates share the experience of a thought-provoking, intellectually challenging program that will influence their future decision-making ability and strategic thinking.

Applications

For application and deadline information, contact the Marshall Center Registrar at registrar@marshallcenter.org, your Ministry point of contact, or the US or German Embassy in your capital city.

SES Information as PDF

Admissions Information for 2008