Model NATO and Security in the North
In September 2024, Model NATO and Security in the North brought together students from UiT, Umeå University, and the University of Lapland for an intensive five-day course. It featured a series of thought-stimulating lectures and panel discussions on NATO’s structure, evolving security challenges in the Nordic region and the Arctic, and the implications of Finland and Sweden’s accession to the Alliance. The academic component was followed by a dynamic crisis simulation in which students role-played NATO member states responding to a complex and evolving security scenario in the High North (Norwegian Svalbard archipelago). This edition emphasized hybrid threats, regional deterrence strategies, and the intersection of NATO’s political and military functions.
Model NATO & Gender Analyses of Conflict Resolution
In March 2022, the Centre for Peace Studies at UiT hosted an intensive Model NATO course combining exciting lectures and a rich simulation exercise. Students explored NATO’s evolving role through a gender lens, analyzing transatlantic security, civil society, and conflict resolution (including peace from below). The crisis simulation revolved around Iran’s nuclear ambitions, where students applied robust diplomacy and negotiation skills to craft a Unified Action Plan. This innovative course deepened the understanding of NATO’s structure, collective defense, and Norway’s strategic interests, while empowering participants to critically examine global security dynamics and the role of gender in international decision-making.
