ILSS Symposium Discusses New Challenges to Human Security

Posted: August 3, 2023 by Gabriella Bartlett

PSIA's Strategic and Security Studies degree program, together with UNG's Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies (ILSS) and the College of Education hosted the annual ILSS Symposium at the Convocation Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus April 5-6, 2023. Through a series of guest speakers and panels, the symposium, titled "Human Security Challenges" explored the role of state, non-state, and international actors in solving or mitigating human security challenges.

"Human security, as a governing principle, emphasizes freedom from want and freedom from fear as opposed to traditional national security, which emphasizes sovereignty and territorial integrity," Dr. Edward Mienie, PSIA Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Strategic and Security Studies Program and Partnerships, said.

Panelists included a former Fulbright fellow, two Army Colonels, representatives from three other senior military colleges, and one of our very own PSIA family – Dr. Raluca Viman-Miller, who headed a discussion on Ukrainian refugees in Romania.

In addition to the panelists, guest speakers included:

• Dr. Volker Franke, professor of conflict management at the School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development Affairs at Kennesaw State University.
• Dr. Tony Pfaff, research professor for strategy, the military profession and ethics at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council.
• Sarah Dawn Petrin, a nonresident senior fellow at the Transatlantic Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Dr. Keith Antonia, retired Army lieutenant colonel, ILSS Executive Director, and chair of the symposium steering committee explained:

"We're bringing together experts, academics, and practitioners in fields related to human security to discuss current issues, future challenges, potential policies, resources, and actions that may mitigate those challenges," Antonia said. "We will have domestic and international participation from a number of foreign countries, universities, businesses, think tanks, and government agencies."

Other partners of the symposium included the Association of the United States Army, Army Strategist Association, Atlanta Council on International Relations, and Army War College Strategic Studies Institute.

Watch the entire symposium courtesy of UNG's AV Team at youtu.be/mMjtU9t7fQI.