LSESU War Studies Society

I am very proud to reflect on the accomplishments of the LSESU War Studies Society this term. We inaugurated our society with a crisis simulation event set in the Sahel region, with the participation of over 70 students. Teams representing the African Union were tasked with developing detailed policy proposals to address the escalating tensions among Mali, Niger, and Chad. Participants had to adapt to real-time flash news updates regarding violent clashes, sanctions, and a mass migration crisis. On October 14th, we hosted our first public event, which focused on the role of international organizations in addressing the crisis in Gaza. The event attracted nearly 100 attendees and explored various questions, including the roles of UNRWA, the UN Security Council, and the UN General Assembly. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Jayyab Abusafia, Dr. Tahani Mustafa, Dr. Gill-Tiney, Dr. James Smith, and Dr. Anne Irfan for their generous contribution to the panel. We also had the pleasure of hosting Counselor Massimo Farrugia and Minister Counselor Dr. Andrea Ricci for an insightful discussion on EU crisis response and conflict prevention. The event offered a Q&A session and networking opportunity, allowing attendees to engage with our speakers about their current roles at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and their past experiences in the EU Parliament and Commission. Additionally, the WSS Blog organized its first workshop of the year, focusing on the impact of deepfakes on international security, especially in the Russo-Ukrainian and China-Taiwan conflicts. I would like to thank Maria Beckers for leading this engaging session, sharing her research findings, and guiding us through important security research methodologies. I am also excited to announce that the WSS Blog has formed an official year-long partnership with Faktoje .al, a fact-checking agency dedicated to combating misinformation in Eastern Europe. Finally, I want to sincerely thank Gareth W. (Sibylline), James Tenniswood (NATO), Jasmina O'Shaughnessy (FCDO), and Sara S. (Janes) for taking part in the final event of this term, a networking “Career Table Turn”. Due to positive feedback from our members, I am pleased to announce that this format will be returning in the second term. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to share these successes alongside my best friends and co-founders, Matilde Roquette and Matteo Vicari. Thank you to the rest of the committee for your hard work. I look forward to the rest of the academic year!

It's hard to put into words the excitement I feel about the future, now that I've started my studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The opportunity to learn from such exceptional teachers and students has been a privilege. It's no wonder that LSE was voted the #1 University in the UK, and in the field of international relations, it's hard to argue that this isn't the best place to be. Balancing my studies and getting acquainted with all the exciting societies has been difficult; thankfully, I took a course in crisis management at the University of Iceland and got to apply what I learnt during my employment at the Department of Welfare for the City of Reykjavík. I attended an event hosted by the War Studies Society and the LSE Think Tank Society, where I got the opportunity to participate in a crisis simulation. Although I have participated in similar exercises, this one was particularly challenging. However, my group and I managed to form a policy proposal that the panel of judges decided was the best. I look forward to developing my skills within these fields, and I'm thankful not only to the incredible group I got to be a part of but also to the LSE War Studies and Think Tank Society. I'm looking forward to future events and to developing my skills even further.

On October 3rd, the LSESU War Studies Society hosted the first major event of the academic year, and it was an incredible success! Participants were immersed in an engaging and dynamic crisis simulation. The simulation centered on “The Struggle for Resources” in the Sahel region, a fictional crisis that explored challenges around water scarcity, the impact of the Zinder Dam, and the role of non-state armed groups. Teams representing the African Union were tasked with developing detailed policy proposals to address escalating tensions between Mali, Niger, Chad, and other international actors like China, the EU, and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). The teams had to adapt to real-time flash news updates on issues like violent clashes, Chinese sanctions, and a mass migration crisis, making the task both complex and highly engaging. Each team’s policy proposal was evaluated based on four main criteria: 1. Feasibility of implementation. 2. Comprehensiveness of the solution. 3. Adaptability to emerging flash news. 4. Clarity and persuasiveness in presentation. After refining their strategies, each team presented their policy proposals, which were judged by Giulia Grillo (LSE IDEAS), Marta Dafano (PhD candidate in International Relations), Chloé Raïd (PhD candidate in International History), and Woohyeok Seo (PhD candidate in International Relations). A big thank you to our judges for their insightful feedback! Congratulations to the two winning teams: ⁃ Team I: Bergur Frostason, Henry McCabe, Elias Eich, Lucas Carbajal, and Diego Toderi. ⁃ Team II: Ellie Derhy, Alexis Cartier, James Taylor, Daniel Vilela, and Benjamin Bithell. The session concluded with a lively social, where participants discussed the simulation over refreshments. This was our first Give-It-A-Go session of the year, and we’re proud to announce that it was extremely successful, with more than 70 attendees! Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the vibrant discussions. We look forward to continuing our exploration of global conflict and security with this enthusiastic community. Stay tuned for more events from the LSESU War Studies Society!”

On October 3rd, the LSESU War Studies Society hosted the first major event of the academic year, and it was an incredible success! Participants were immersed in an engaging and dynamic crisis simulation. The simulation centered on “The Struggle for Resources” in the Sahel region, a fictional crisis that explored challenges around water scarcity, the impact of the Zinder Dam, and the role of non-state armed groups. Teams representing the African Union were tasked with developing detailed policy proposals to address escalating tensions between Mali, Niger, Chad, and other international actors like China, the EU, and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). The teams had to adapt to real-time flash news updates on issues like violent clashes, Chinese sanctions, and a mass migration crisis, making the task both complex and highly engaging. Each team’s policy proposal was evaluated based on four main criteria: 1. Feasibility of implementation. 2. Comprehensiveness of the solution. 3. Adaptability to emerging flash news. 4. Clarity and persuasiveness in presentation. After refining their strategies, each team presented their policy proposals, which were judged by Giulia Grillo (LSE IDEAS), Marta Dafano (PhD candidate in International Relations), Chloé Raïd (PhD candidate in International History), and Woohyeok Seo (PhD candidate in International Relations). A big thank you to our judges for their insightful feedback! Congratulations to the two winning teams: ⁃ Team I: Bergur Frostason, Henry McCabe, Elias Eich, Lucas Carbajal, and Diego Toderi. ⁃ Team II: Ellie Derhy, Alexis Cartier, James Taylor, Daniel Vilela, and Benjamin Bithell. The session concluded with a lively social, where participants discussed the simulation over refreshments. This was our first Give-It-A-Go session of the year, and we’re proud to announce that it was extremely successful, with more than 70 attendees! Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the vibrant discussions. We look forward to continuing our exploration of global conflict and security with this enthusiastic community. Stay tuned for more events from the LSESU War Studies Society!”

We are excited to announce the official launch of the LSESU War Studies Society (WSS) at the London School of Economics and Political Science! As the first of its kind, WSS unites students who are passionate about intelligence, warfare, and security. Here is a brief overview of our aims and initiatives for the upcoming academic year: Events: The WSS will host a wide array of events, including high-profile speaker events, and workshops led by experts and practitioners in the field of War Studies. We aim to collaborate with other LSE societies and organizations across London to deliver intellectually stimulating and engaging events that help our members build upon their knowledge. As a society created by students, for students, WSS fosters a sense of community. Our social events throughout the year provide a space for members to connect with one another and feel at home at the LSE. Building a Network: We are committed to providing opportunities for members to expand their networks and establish meaningful connections within the field. Whether you are interested in global risk consultancy, NGOs, the EU, national defense agencies, and the UN, our events and workshops are designed to cater to your interests. War Journalism:  We are proud to present the WSS Blog—a platform for insightful, well-researched, and impactful articles that delve into the complexities of war studies. Our blog features three sections: The Weekly, The Opinion, and The Review, inviting writers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to contribute. In a world where conflict and insecurity remain crucial, the War Studies Society seeks to be a beacon of knowledge, empowering its members to become agents of change. Let’s get started!