West Africa in the spotlight of international security: Professor Ed Stoddard gave a guest lecture at WUNU
As part of the educational platform ‘International Relations and Diplomacy: British Guest Lectures’, organised by the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, a lecture was held on the topic “Understanding the Enduring Expansion of Extremist Groups in West Africa” for students on the “International Relations” degree programme. The event was organised with the support of Uiana Koruts, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research, and the International Relations Office of WUNU.
The guest lecturer was Ed Stoddard, Professor of International Security at the University of Portsmouth (UK), Visiting Professor at the College of Europe, Natolin (Warsaw) and Affiliated Fellow at the Scuola Sant'Anna Superiore, Pisa.
During the lecture, the speaker analysed current security developments in West Africa, the reasons behind the persistence and spread of extremist groups, the characteristics of so-called ‘jihadist’ movements, and the challenges faced by states in the region and international actors in countering hybrid and security threats. Particular attention was paid to geopolitical transformations in the region and their impact on international security and global stability.
The lecture generated considerable interest among students of the International Relations programme and the department’s lecturers. Following the presentation, a lively discussion took place, during which students asked the speaker numerous questions regarding current trends in international security, the role of international organisations, and the prospects for stabilising the situation in the region.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Professor Ed Stoddard for his insightful lecture, his expert analysis of current international developments, and his detailed answers to questions from students on the ‘International Relations’ programme.
