Last weekend, security heavyweights and senior leadership from the Transatlantic area and beyond gathered in the (luxurious five-star) Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich to discuss the world’s most pressing international security issues - to the extent possible in three days, of course. As the Munich Security Conference - what some have called the “Davos of defense” - turns 60, security matters are at a worrying high point around the world and defense discussions have made a strong comeback to an otherwise peaceful Europe. Never spared of criticism, this year’s edition of the MSC was not any different. In case you missed it, here we bring you some highlights and food for thought from the topics that dominated the agenda.
On the table: Broader visions of security meet the good old military-industrial complex
Good news for students and young professionals in international affairs at large: MSC covered a wide range of topics beyond traditional understandings of security. Although expected discussions on EU defence and NATO (featuring Ursula von der Leyen and Zelenskyy) were very present in the Conference, its thematic variety did not disappoint. The Conference included sessions on climate diplomacy, UN Security Council reform, international humanitarian law, the use of sexual violence in conflict, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, among many others.
Its regional coverage also spanned beyond the Conference’s traditional Transatlantic focus, and timely discussions were held on the security situation in the Red Sea, Sahel, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, and the Indo-Pacific. No fewer than three sessions were devoted to debating stability and peace in the Middle East, with representatives from Egypt, EU, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel (someone missing here…?).
The Conference also left us with some remarkable speeches, such as Yulia Navalnaya’s message calling for justice and accountability in Russia, moments after the news about Alexei Navalny’s death in prison was made public. The rest of recordings are available on the Conference’s website and are a great resource to go back to in search of insights on contemporary issues.
Was that it? Well, no. As a Conference born in the Cold War era, its halls are usually filled with rather traditional military men and defense officials. And despite the rich and diverse conversations on the topics mentioned above, equally important is what goes on behind the scenes (read: bilateral meetings between high-level attendees and closed-door panels to which yours truly was unfortunately not invited). If the topic of the 2024 conference’s flagship report was lose-lose dynamics, some argue that the side events, networking dinners and invitation-only discussions are certainly a win-win for arms manufacturers, defense and tech contractors. Up to you to judge.
Diversity, equity and inclusion: better late than never
If the MSC’s guiding principle is the Munich rule “engage and interact with each other; don't lecture or ignore one another”, it has taken quite some time to expand who gets to engage and interact with others at the discussion table. This year promised a bump in female and non-Western participation, long missing in the conference’s previous editions and essential in the current global security landscape. Here are some reflections:
Filling the diversity quota: At first glance, long-time observers pointed out that while the event obviously still attracts many establishment types, many more women and young people were present in this year’s MSC. In addition to participating as attendees, the Conference prides itself on having a 50% female speaker rate (and they don’t hesitate to remind the public about it on their social media).
Beyond figures: Only last year (2023!) was a Woman Parliamentarians Program launched, connecting young female parliamentarians across party affiliations to generate new ideas in foreign, security, and development policy. Yes, that’s 23 years after the Security Council adopted the landmark Women, Peace and Security resolution, but better late than never.
Towards meaningful participation: Despite these praiseworthy advances, some areas of improvement remain. Firstly, time matters. An all-female panel on civil resistance with a truly phenomenal lineup made of activists and opposition leaders from Belarus, Myanmar, Iran and the Philippines took place at (drum roll) 10pm. You read that correctly. If women’s participation in next year’s Conference is to be given the importance it deserves, similar panels should take center stage and not be left on the sidelines. Secondly, critical topics such as the use of sexual violence as a weapon made an appearance in the Conference, but these discussions continue to happen in siloes, isolated from conversations on 21st century war dynamics. As they represent important challenges to international law, human security, transitional justice and accountability, “women’s” concerns should not be seen as concerning only half of the population. These issues must also be integrated and raised in mainstream discussions on war and conflict.
Intersectionality still loading: Unsurprisingly, certain crises got more attention than others. As was expected, Ukraine and the Middle East stole the limelight. Both conflicts - close to Europe’s interests and concerns - were covered in numerous panels across the three-day conference, but other - severely underfunded and forgotten - crises in the Global South like Sudan received far less coverage. No discussion on the decades-long conflict in DR Congo which has claimed almost 6 million lives was featured. As a Conference on international security issues, its scope could still broaden further to include more non-Western perspectives and reflect global security challenges more accurately.
In short, the traditionally Western, men-dominated scene could be losing momentum, but it will still take more concerted action and deliberate efforts to make the MSC a truly inclusive forum reflective of today’s global security changes.
Adapt or die: Six decades and counting
In its 60th year, the Munich Security Conference gets older and (arguably) wiser. By integrating new online participation formats, opportunities for youth engagement, a rich agenda, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Conference has shown its ability to adapt to present times and evolve as needed to continue hosting meaningful discussions on the 21st century security challenges.
Despite its controversies, shortcomings and usual criticisms, it is only fair to remember that Rome was not built in a day. Substantive reforms to a Cold War-era Conference will not happen overnight, and changes are already underway. It remains to be seen whether they will be significant enough to face the environmental and technological security challenges of the future. But as the Munich Security Conference moves forward in its endeavors, it indeed seems to be standing the test of time.
This blog has been developed by Ana Cobano Cuesta, the IO READY Early Career Coaching Alumna and Community Member.
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