Contemporary Security Threats: The Future of Conflict, Cybersecurity, and Democratization

In the rapidly evolving global landscape, security challenges are increasingly defined by non-traditional threats that transcend borders and traditional military confrontations. This panel will explore the intersection of contemporary security risks, the future of warfare, and the impact on democratization. Central to this discussion is the role of cybersecurity, as nation-states and non-state actors exploit digital vulnerabilities to destabilize governments and societies. The proliferation of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure raises critical questions about resilience in the face of digital aggression.
The environmental crisis is another growing threat to global security, where climate change, resource scarcity, and natural disasters exacerbate tensions and migration patterns, further complicating the security landscape. Additionally, the rise of informational warfare—through disinformation campaigns, propaganda, and online manipulation—poses a direct challenge to democratic processes and societal cohesion.
As technology advances, robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the nature of conflict. From drone warfare to AI-driven decision-making, the battlefield of the future is poised to become increasingly automated, reducing human involvement and potentially shifting the power dynamics in international relations. The methods of future wars—integrating cyber, environmental, and technological tools—are expected to blur the lines between combatants and civilians, creating new legal, ethical, and strategic challenges for democracies.
This panel will address how these interconnected threats reshape global security, challenge democratic governance, and demand new frameworks for international cooperation and conflict resolution in an era of technological and environmental transformation.