Where is the ICSSP 2027 conference being held?

The conference will take place in Vancouver, CAN.

When does the ICSSP 2027 conference occur?

The conference is scheduled for May 20-21, 2027.

ICSSP 2027: 21. International Conference on Security Studies and Politics

Name: ICSSP 2027: 21. International Conference on Security Studies and Politics
Start: 2027-05-20T00:00:00Z
End: 2027-05-21T00:00:00Z
Location: Vancouver

May 20–21, 2027Vancouver, CanadaIn-person

Registration open

The International Conference on Security Studies and Politics (ICSSP) convenes in Vancouver, CAN, offering a platform for academics, policymakers, and practitioners to dissect contemporary security challenges and their political ramifications. This event fosters interdisciplinary dialogue on critical issues shaping the global security landscape, ranging from traditional geopolitical rivalries to emerging threats. Participants will engage with research and analysis aimed at understanding the complex interplay between security dynamics and political processes worldwide.

Committees & topics

Topics
Security Studies: Evolution of the Field · Traditional and Critical Perspectives in Security · Current and Common Problems in Security Studies · Applied Security Studies: From Theory to Practice · International and National Threats in Security Studies · International Relations and Security · Intelligence and Defense · Organized Violence: Patterns, Actors, and Responses

Why it matters

In an era characterized by rapid geopolitical shifts and evolving security paradigms, understanding the intricate relationship between security studies and politics is paramount. The conference provides a crucial forum for examining how political decisions influence security outcomes and, conversely, how security concerns shape political agendas. This dynamic interaction is central to addressing global challenges effectively.

The discussions at ICSSP are vital for developing comprehensive strategies to navigate an increasingly complex international environment. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the conference aims to contribute to more nuanced analyses of conflict, cooperation, and statecraft. Such insights are indispensable for fostering stability and mitigating risks on a global scale.

How to prepare

Delegates preparing for the ICSSP should focus on developing a robust understanding of current geopolitical trends and their impact on international security. This includes familiarizing oneself with the security postures and political dynamics of key global actors. Understanding the historical context of conflicts in various regions will also be beneficial. Reviewing lessons on "Dynamic Analysis" and "Engagement Strategies" can refine your approach to complex international relations.

Consider exploring the concept of "Hidden Stakeholders" to better understand the often-unseen actors influencing security and political outcomes. A "Stakeholder Mapping Workshop" can provide practical skills for identifying and analyzing these critical players. Furthermore, an awareness of "Gender Dynamics Across Cultures" can offer a more holistic perspective on security issues, as gender often plays a significant, though sometimes overlooked, role in conflict and peace processes.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 19 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Canada

As the host nation, Canada plays a significant role in facilitating international dialogue on security and politics.

Role in topic

CAN provides a neutral and welcoming environment for discussions on global security, often emphasizing multilateralism and conflict resolution. Its own foreign policy and security concerns, particularly in the Arctic and with its southern neighbor, USA, inform its perspective on international security.

United States

A global superpower, the United States' security and political actions have far-reaching implications.

Role in topic

The USA's role as a dominant military and economic power means its policies on defense, alliances, and international interventions are central to global security discussions. Its perspectives on issues like counter-terrorism, cyber warfare, and great power competition are highly influential.

China

China's rising influence is reshaping global security and political dynamics.

Role in topic

CHN's economic growth and military modernization have made it a critical actor in international security. Its stance on regional disputes, its Belt and Road Initiative, and its growing technological capabilities are key areas of discussion in security studies and politics.

Russia

Russia remains a significant geopolitical force, particularly in European and Eurasian security.

Role in topic

RUS's actions in its near abroad, its military capabilities, and its approach to international norms are central to understanding contemporary security challenges. Its perspectives on NATO expansion, energy security, and cyber operations are frequently debated.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom contributes to global security through its diplomatic and military engagements.

Role in topic

GBR, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a key NATO ally, plays a role in international security through its defense policy, intelligence cooperation, and diplomatic efforts. Its post-Brexit foreign policy is a subject of ongoing analysis.

France

France is a key European power with significant contributions to defense and international security.

Role in topic

FRA's independent foreign policy, its nuclear deterrent, and its military interventions in Africa are important aspects of its role in global security. It often advocates for European strategic autonomy and multilateral solutions to international crises.

Germany

Germany's economic strength and evolving defense policy are increasingly relevant to European security.

Role in topic

DEU's role in European security has grown, particularly in the context of its economic power and its increasing willingness to engage in international security operations. Its energy policy and its relationship with RUS are also critical factors.

Ukraine

Ukraine is at the forefront of discussions on territorial integrity and international law.

Role in topic

UKR's ongoing conflict has made it a focal point for discussions on state sovereignty, international intervention, and the future of European security architecture. Its resilience and the international response to its situation are key case studies.

Israel

Israel's security challenges are central to Middle Eastern stability.

Role in topic

ISR's complex security environment, including regional conflicts and its relationships with neighboring states, makes it a critical case study in security studies. Its defense strategies and technological advancements are often analyzed.

Iran

Iran's regional influence and nuclear program are major security concerns.

Role in topic

IRN's nuclear ambitions, its support for non-state actors, and its role in regional conflicts are central to discussions on Middle Eastern security and international non-proliferation efforts. Its foreign policy is a subject of intense scrutiny.

Finland

Finland's security posture has evolved significantly in response to regional dynamics.

Role in topic

FIN's historical neutrality and recent alignment changes provide a valuable case study in adapting national security policy to shifting geopolitical realities. Its border with RUS and its defense capabilities are key considerations.

Estonia

Estonia is a leader in cyber defense and digital security.

Role in topic

EST's advanced digital infrastructure and its experience with cyber attacks make it a significant contributor to discussions on cyber security and hybrid warfare. Its perspective as a smaller state bordering RUS is also important.

Singapore

Singapore's strategic location and sophisticated defense capabilities are vital for regional security.

Role in topic

SGP plays a crucial role in maritime security and trade routes in Southeast Asia. Its proactive defense policy, technological investments, and diplomatic engagement contribute to regional stability and provide insights into small state security strategies.

North Korea

North Korea's nuclear and missile programs pose a significant global security threat.

Role in topic

PRK's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and its unpredictable foreign policy are central to discussions on nuclear proliferation, regional stability in East Asia, and the challenges of international diplomacy.

Pakistan

Pakistan's geopolitical position and nuclear arsenal are critical for South Asian security.

Role in topic

PAK's complex relationship with its neighbors, its counter-terrorism efforts, and its nuclear capabilities make it a key actor in regional and international security discussions. Its internal stability also has broader implications.

India

India's rising power and strategic autonomy are shaping Asian and global security.

Role in topic

IND's growing economic and military might, its border disputes, and its role in regional organizations are increasingly important for understanding Asian security dynamics. Its non-aligned foreign policy tradition offers a unique perspective.

Japan

Japan's evolving defense posture and technological prowess are key to East Asian security.

Role in topic

JPN's pacifist constitution and its increasing defense spending, coupled with its technological leadership, make it a significant player in East Asian security. Its alliances and its approach to regional challenges are closely watched.

Sudan

Sudan's internal conflicts and humanitarian crises are major security and political concerns.

Role in topic

SDN's ongoing internal strife, humanitarian challenges, and regional instability make it a critical case study for conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and the role of international intervention in complex emergencies.

Myanmar

Myanmar's political instability and humanitarian situation are significant regional and international concerns.

Role in topic

MMR's internal conflicts, human rights issues, and the challenges to its democratic transition are central to discussions on state fragility, regional security, and the responsibility to protect populations from mass atrocities.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Security Studies: Evolution of the Field

Security studies emerged as a distinct subfield of international relations during the early Cold War, originally focused narrowly on the use, threat, and control of military force between states. Pioneering work in the 1950s and 1960s by scholars at RAND and institutions like the IISS framed security around nuclear deterrence, alliance politics, and the bipolar standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. The discipline matured alongside arms control negotiations such as SALT and the NPT regime. With the end of the Cold War, the field broadened considerably. Concepts of human security, articulated in the 1994 UNDP Human Development Report, environmental security, and societal security expanded the referent object beyond the state. The post-9/11 era refocused attention on terrorism, asymmetric warfare, and homeland security, while the 2010s and 2020s have reintroduced great-power competition, hybrid threats, and contested domains such as cyber and space. Today, security studies sits at an inflection point, balancing classical concerns over deterrence and territorial defense with transnational risks ranging from pandemics to climate disruption.

Key players

Traditional and Critical Perspectives in Security

Traditional security studies, rooted in realist and neorealist theory, treats the state as the principal referent of security and emphasizes military capability, balance of power, and deterrence. This perspective dominated Cold War scholarship and remains influential in defense ministries and great-power capitals, undergirding concepts such as extended deterrence, nuclear stability, and alliance burden-sharing. Critical security studies emerged in the 1990s as a challenge to this orthodoxy. The Welsh School (Ken Booth, Richard Wyn Jones) advanced emancipation as the proper goal of security; the Copenhagen School (Buzan, Wæver) introduced securitization theory, arguing that security is a speech act that elevates issues above normal politics; and the Paris School emphasized the role of bureaucratic security professionals. Feminist, postcolonial, and poststructuralist scholars further broadened the agenda to include gendered violence, the legacies of empire, and the politics of identity. The contemporary debate increasingly turns on how to integrate these approaches in addressing hybrid threats, climate, and AI-enabled warfare.

Key players

Current and Common Problems in Security Studies

Contemporary security studies confronts a convergence of crises that strain Cold War-era frameworks. The return of major interstate war in Europe with Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, escalating conflict in the Middle East following the October 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel's Gaza campaign, and the catastrophic civil war in Sudan since April 2023 have reasserted the centrality of organized armed violence. Simultaneously, strategic competition between the United States and China spans trade, technology, and military posture in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Alongside these classical concerns, transnational problems demand attention: cyber operations against critical infrastructure, the militarization of space following multiple ASAT tests, disinformation as a tool of statecraft, and the security implications of climate change and forced migration. The proliferation of dual-use technologies—AI, drones, biotech—blurs civil-military boundaries and complicates arms control. The common thread is a security landscape in which threats are simultaneously more interconnected and more contested, while multilateral institutions struggle to adapt.

Key players

Applied Security Studies: From Theory to Practice

Applied security studies translates academic frameworks into operational guidance for governments, militaries, and international organizations. Areas of application include risk assessment for critical infrastructure protection, counterterrorism doctrine developed after 9/11 and refined through the campaigns against al-Qaeda and ISIS, peacekeeping and stabilization operations under UN and regional mandates, and intelligence analysis methodologies adopted by agencies worldwide. More recently, applied work has focused on cyber defense (including frameworks like NIST and ENISA standards), hybrid-threat response within NATO's Centre of Excellence in Helsinki, and the integration of climate considerations into defense planning by ministries from London to Canberra. Practitioners increasingly draw on data science, wargaming, and red-teaming to test policy. The persistent challenge is bridging the gap between academic theorizing and the time-pressured, politically constrained world of decision-makers, particularly as emerging technologies outpace doctrine.

Key players

International and National Threats in Security Studies

The distinction between international and national threats has eroded as transnational actors and technologies blur jurisdictional lines. Traditional national threats—insurgency, separatism, organized crime—now frequently have international dimensions through diaspora financing, foreign sponsorship, and cross-border safe havens, as seen in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and parts of South Asia. Conversely, international threats such as terrorism, proliferation, and pandemic disease manifest in concrete national vulnerabilities. Great-power rivalries shape this threat landscape: NATO's 2022 Strategic Concept identified Russia as the most significant direct threat and China as a systemic challenge. Non-state threats persist through ISIS affiliates in Africa and Afghanistan, Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, and criminal-insurgent hybrids in Latin America. Cyber intrusions against electoral systems and critical infrastructure further illustrate how foreign adversaries can produce domestic crises. States increasingly adopt comprehensive or whole-of-government national security strategies that knit together military, intelligence, economic, and civil-defense instruments.

Key players

International Relations and Security

The relationship between international relations theory and security is foundational: realism, liberalism, constructivism, and the English School each offer competing explanations of why states fight, cooperate, or build institutions. Classical realism (Morgenthau) and structural realism (Waltz, Mearsheimer) emphasize anarchy and power; liberal institutionalism (Keohane, Nye) highlights how regimes such as the NPT, Chemical Weapons Convention, and UN Charter can mitigate conflict; constructivism (Wendt) underscores how identities and norms—such as the nuclear taboo—shape state behavior. The post-2014 erosion of European security following Russia's annexation of Crimea, the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, intensifying U.S.-China competition, and the strain on the UN Security Council have revived realist analysis while raising questions about the durability of the liberal international order. Concurrently, the expansion of regional security arrangements—AUKUS, the Quad, an enlarged NATO, the African Union's peace and security architecture—reflects an effort to rebuild collective security amid multipolarity. The interplay between theory and policy remains a central concern.

Key players

Intelligence and Defense

Modern intelligence services trace their institutional roots to the two World Wars and matured during the Cold War, when signals intelligence (SIGINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), and imagery analysis became central instruments of statecraft. The Five Eyes partnership among the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—formalized through the UKUSA Agreement—remains the world's most extensive intelligence-sharing arrangement. The post-9/11 era brought sweeping expansions in counterterrorism intelligence, accompanied by controversies over mass surveillance exposed in the 2013 Snowden disclosures. Contemporary intelligence work confronts a transformed environment: ubiquitous open-source intelligence (OSINT) was decisive in exposing Russia's pre-2022 force build-up; cyber operations conducted by units such as the U.S. Cyber Command, China's PLA Strategic Support Force, and Russia's GRU blur the line between intelligence and offensive action. Defense establishments are simultaneously adapting to drone warfare lessons from Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, AI-enabled targeting, and contested logistics. Democratic oversight, inter-agency coordination, and the protection of sources amid an information-saturated environment are enduring institutional challenges.

Key players

Organized Violence: Patterns, Actors, and Responses

Organized violence encompasses interstate war, civil war, one-sided violence against civilians, and large-scale criminal violence. After a long post-Cold War decline, the Uppsala Conflict Data Program and other datasets have recorded a sharp rise in armed conflict since the mid-2010s, with 2022–2024 marking the deadliest period since the Rwandan genocide. Drivers include great-power rivalry, weak states in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, transnational jihadist movements, and the spread of criminal armed groups in Latin America and West Africa. Major active theaters include Russia's war in Ukraine; the Israel–Hamas conflict and its regional spillovers in Lebanon, Yemen, and the Red Sea; Sudan's civil war between the SAF and RSF, which has produced the world's largest displacement crisis; and persistent insurgencies in Myanmar, the DRC, and the Sahel. International responses—UN peacekeeping, ICC investigations, arms embargoes such as those under Resolution 1591, and ad hoc coalitions—have struggled with great-power deadlock in the Security Council. Scholars debate whether the current surge marks a structural shift toward a more violent international system or a cyclical peak.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for ICSSP 2027: 21. International Conference on Security Studies and Politics.

Recent reporting to ground your prep

Virginia Joins National Popular Vote Compact

Arming an archipelago: Is time running out for Europe's oldest DMZ? | Euronews

Comprehensive approach to security: Federal Council launches consultation on Switzerland's security policy strategy

Japan's Dilemma Over Hormuz Mine Clearance

Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Stakeholder Mapping Workshop

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Conflict Resolution

Canada May 2027

By committee

Frequently asked questions

ICSSP 2027: 21. International Conference on Security Studies and Politics

May 20–21, 2027Vancouver, CanadaIn-person

Registration open

Committees & topics

Topics
Security Studies: Evolution of the Field · Traditional and Critical Perspectives in Security · Current and Common Problems in Security Studies · Applied Security Studies: From Theory to Practice · International and National Threats in Security Studies · International Relations and Security · Intelligence and Defense · Organized Violence: Patterns, Actors, and Responses

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 19 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Canada

As the host nation, Canada plays a significant role in facilitating international dialogue on security and politics.

Role in topic

United States

A global superpower, the United States' security and political actions have far-reaching implications.

Role in topic

China

China's rising influence is reshaping global security and political dynamics.

Role in topic

Russia

Russia remains a significant geopolitical force, particularly in European and Eurasian security.

Role in topic

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom contributes to global security through its diplomatic and military engagements.

Role in topic

France

France is a key European power with significant contributions to defense and international security.

Role in topic

Germany

Germany's economic strength and evolving defense policy are increasingly relevant to European security.

Role in topic

Ukraine

Ukraine is at the forefront of discussions on territorial integrity and international law.

Role in topic

Israel

Israel's security challenges are central to Middle Eastern stability.

Role in topic

Iran

Iran's regional influence and nuclear program are major security concerns.

Role in topic

Finland

Finland's security posture has evolved significantly in response to regional dynamics.

Role in topic

Estonia

Estonia is a leader in cyber defense and digital security.

Role in topic

Singapore

Singapore's strategic location and sophisticated defense capabilities are vital for regional security.

Role in topic

North Korea

North Korea's nuclear and missile programs pose a significant global security threat.

Role in topic

Pakistan

Pakistan's geopolitical position and nuclear arsenal are critical for South Asian security.

Role in topic

India

India's rising power and strategic autonomy are shaping Asian and global security.

Role in topic

Japan

Japan's evolving defense posture and technological prowess are key to East Asian security.

Role in topic

Sudan

Sudan's internal conflicts and humanitarian crises are major security and political concerns.

Role in topic

Myanmar

Myanmar's political instability and humanitarian situation are significant regional and international concerns.

Role in topic

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Security Studies: Evolution of the Field

Key players

Traditional and Critical Perspectives in Security

Key players

Current and Common Problems in Security Studies

Key players

Applied Security Studies: From Theory to Practice

Key players

International and National Threats in Security Studies

Key players

International Relations and Security

Key players

Intelligence and Defense

Key players

Organized Violence: Patterns, Actors, and Responses

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for ICSSP 2027: 21. International Conference on Security Studies and Politics.

Recent reporting to ground your prep

Virginia Joins National Popular Vote Compact

Arming an archipelago: Is time running out for Europe's oldest DMZ? | Euronews

Comprehensive approach to security: Federal Council launches consultation on Switzerland's security policy strategy

Japan's Dilemma Over Hormuz Mine Clearance

Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Stakeholder Mapping Workshop

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Conflict Resolution

Canada May 2027

By committee

Committees & topics

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Topics & background

Resources

Related conferences

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CIC Toronto: Canada in a Fragmenting World – Navigating Geopolitics, Alliances, and Emerging Security Challenges

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Frequently asked questions

Committees & topics

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Topics & background

Resources

Related conferences

J.W. Dafoe Political Science Students’ Conference 2026

Leadersphere 2026 Conference

CIC Toronto: Canada in a Fragmenting World – Navigating Geopolitics, Alliances, and Emerging Security Challenges

Parliamentary Symposium: The Future of Middle Powers After the Rupture: Perspectives from Canada and Beyond

Implementing Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy

2026 CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE CONFERENCE (CANIC 2026)

Frequently asked questions