Navigating the world of international relations events as a student or young graduate can be daunting. High-level speakers, invitation-only panels, expert roundtables, cryptic acronyms… you’ve probably wondered how you can participate in these conferences and what your role as a junior professional would be in them.
This is why we launched our IR Events Series: to help you understand, successfully engage and make the most of the leading conferences and forums that set the agenda in international relations.
Previous editions of our series include up-to-date information and insights on the Geneva Peace Week, Paris Peace Forum, COP28, Global Refugee Forum and World Economic Forum. And as the Munich Security Conference takes place this weekend, we bring you new tips and tricks to help you participate in the event, enhance your skills and broaden your horizons.
Where do I get started?
The Munich Security Conference is a global platform for high-level discussions on international security issues. As the largest event on this topic, it gathers more than 450 senior-decision makers and leaders from around the world.
This year’s sessions will unfold from February 16-18, here’s what you can do to participate in it:
Get familiar with MSC’s flagship publications: The Munich Security Report and the Munich Security Index set the tone for the discussions during the event. They contain exclusive data and graphics on current security policy issues and provide an in-depth view of how G7 and BRICS countries view risks. If you’re a student in this field, they could also be very relevant sources for your own research and papers.
Take a look at the agenda and spot interesting discussions: Although some roundtables are accessible by invitation only, numerous panels are held for the public. Whether you are interested in topics such as International Humanitarian Law, disinformation, the geopolitics of AI, or the future of peace operations, there’s surely a session in the 20-page agenda for you.
Watch the livestreams: Tune in to the discussions on D-Day and take notes. Pay attention to the language the speakers use, the dynamics of the panel discussions, and the concepts they present during their interventions. Diplomatic communication and oral speaking will be core skills for your career and high-level IR Events offer you the opportunity to witness how they are employed by senior practitioners in the field.
What’s next?
Now that you know what the MSC is about and you may have had the chance to attend a session or two, here are a couple of extra opportunities for you to keep in mind for upcoming editions of the event.
Junior Ambassadors Programme: Are you 3,500 characters away from a personal invitation to the Conference? Since 2013, the MSC offers young people between the ages of 18 and 28 the opportunity to become Junior Ambassadors and attend the Conference by participating in an essay competition. Essay proposals must be related to the broad field of security politics and the topic suggested in each year’s opening. So far, Junior Ambassadors have come from Argentina, Austria, the United States, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea and Russia. Could you be next?
Munich Young Leaders: Organised by the MSC and Körber-Stiftung since 2009, 25 young leaders from governmental institutions, parliaments, think tanks, the media, and the private sector in Germany, selected NATO member and partner countries are selected each year to participate in the conference. How does it work? German embassies in the relevant countries propose up to three potential participants who fit the expected profile and the final decision is made by the organising parties. Unsolicited applications are not accepted, so the process is rather opaque…
Still want to know more?
Do not forget to check our LinkedIn infographic on the conference and reach out if you would like to know more about IO Ready and the IR Events series!
This blog has been developed by Ana Cobano Cuesta, the IO READY Early Career Coaching Alumna and Community Member.
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