A course reflects on European security concerns

The European Security course in the Degree Programme in Politics was taught by Research Director Hanna Ojanen. At a time of global concern, the course offered a combination of knowledge, theory and concrete action and an effective way to help students understand European security. The White Paper directly connected the course to the current European context.

Ojanen finds the White Paper to be more concrete than previous EU security and defence policy documents. White Papers are documents that contain proposals for actions taken in the European Union. (See White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030). 

The White Paper lists shortcomings in defence readiness and suggests potential funding sources. While each member state remains responsible for its own defence, the document encourages joint defence procurements and examines military mobility. The document’s strategic dimension is evident in its discussion of partnerships.

“The document states that member states will continue to be responsible for their own armed forces. However, it also presents clear future scenarios, starting with funding and defence-industrial cooperation. The internal market provides the Union with additional tools,” Ojanen says.

Continued support for Ukraine is vital. By 2030, the way in which the EU makes decisions on defence and security policy may also have evolved.

A broader understanding of security

Students reported that the course broadened their thinking about European security by giving them with tools to understand the role of international organisations. The course analysed the roles of the EU and NATO by examining the current security landscape.

During the final session in the course, a spirit of diplomacy prevailed as the students sought consensus. They debated the wording of the joint statement, including ways to define a security threat. An orange card signified agreement, and a blue card indicated disagreement. Students also justified their positions.

A joint statement based on the White Paper made the phenomenon even more topical.

“I probably would not have known about the publication of the White Paper without this course. Reading it alone, the content feels top-down but reading it in a group invites critique. You might initially respond intuitively, but the discussion can change your perspective,” said Pinja Jalkanen, a student majoring in journalism.

Jacopo Stefani, an Italian exchange student, felt he had gained a deeper understanding of European security who noted that threats are perceived differently across the member states. Stefani appreciated the consensus process and voting.

“Everyone had the chance to express their opinion which naturally takes courage, but the learning environment was safe for everyone,” he says.

After the course, Research Director Ojanen sent the joint statement to the European Commission.

“The consensus method was first introduced by the World Council of Churches. The most important thing in the method is the feeling of being heard. We also had a deadline for the letter, as it had to be ready by the end of the course. Learning about how to accomplish things together was probably the most important lesson we learned,” says Ojanen.

Oskar Larsen and Jaakko Lindgren thought that the timing of the White Paper’s publication during the course was ideal. They gained a broader understanding of how multifaceted the concept of security is. They both learned how to form a collective stance.

“When we reach a majority opinion through the consensus model, we are able to move forward. However, everyone can still raise issues for discussion. It is definitely educational for many to realise that the decision-making process cannot be stalled indefinitely,” Larsen says.

The students believe that the course also provided momentum for their future careers.

“Few of us will work alone. For example, statements are often drafted in groups, which is why consensus is needed,” says Lindgren.

“I hope that people will feel heard and can influence outcomes in their future career,” Larsen adds.

Expert skills and a sense of capability amid uncertainty

Doctoral Researcher Aleksi Kivimaa also taught in the course that was assisted by Maria Rossi, a master’s student of international relations.

Kivimaa and Rossi emphasise that identifying content that is relevant to the topic at hand is a key skill in goal-oriented reading. The White Paper was a focused reading assignment in which the students also paid attention to the characteristics of the text genre.

“Not having to take a stance on every aspect makes decision-making easier. The goal is to develop a sense of self-efficacy, which can foster hope. The idea is to develop tolerance for uncertainty without overexposure. We aimed to provide tools for that,” Kivimaa says.

“As we processed the White Paper, we delved into a very concrete future-oriented policy document. It is important for political experts to become familiar with different text genres,” says Rossi.

Forming a joint statement illustrated group dynamics as a learning experience. The teachers’ role was to provide support in case of friction.

"Drafting a joint statement under time pressure is a first step towards achieving success. When a sense of capability is fostered, success in more challenging situations becomes possible,” Rossi reflected.

Kivimaa emphasised that expert roles require the ability to quickly condense and simplify complex matters without making these simplifications unfounded or misleading. Security is constantly being redefined and influenced by the logic of securitisation.

"Many issues can be framed as security concerns. This can be useful when identifying links between seemingly taken for granted topics and the protection of life, for example, think of food safety. However, the power of securitisation can also be misused. Defining something as a security issue in a sense elevates its importance above that of other issues.”

"That's why it's important to emphasise responsibility and consideration, especially for future experts, whose structural role as condensers and simplifiers allows them to define the significance of topics — often in a relatively unilateral way," Kivimaa explains.

Maria Rossi worked as a research assistant during her internship at the Faculty of Management and Business. On the European Security course, her tasks included compiling teaching materials and providing guidance. Rossi is currently preparing her master's thesis and intends to pursue doctoral studies.

Aleksi Kivimaa is writing a doctoral dissertation that focuses on building resilience in the context of cognitive warfare. 

“I see cognitive resilience in this context as creating, enabling, and ensuring the conditions for high-quality, coherent information processing and decision-making, even in hostile information environments such as those involving manipulation. This topic is closely related to information warfare, but it focuses more on people’s relationships with knowledge than on the content itself.”

Kivimaa sees a connection between the course and his research theme, as constant uncertainty can hinder people’s ability to process information and make decisions. Enhancing agency through knowledge, action and skills can improve the ability to engage with the world.

“The goal was to identify the ‘sweet spots’ in the course. The work should be challenging enough to be engaging, but not so challenging as to paralyse people’s ability to act,” Rossi says.
 

The language model used by Tampere University was utilised in the translation.