ACT Students attend the 64th Annual Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference
The 64th Annual Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference titled WHERE POWER LIES: The Development of Civil-Military Relations in a New World Order took place in Annapolis, Maryland, from 9-11 of April 2024. The mission of the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference is to bring together the best undergraduate minds from around the world to discuss complex modern issues in foreign policy.
Three ACT students from the Political Science and International Relations program were selected as the ACT delegates to the conference: Jana Chapovska, Stavros Theodor Delakis, and Agapi Farra. This experience also serves to develop lasting civil-military relationships among future leaders in the armed forces, government, and private sector.
Overall, it was an invaluable experience. This conference made clear how civil-military interactions can shape respect and understanding of each other’s roles. Such success can be significantly advanced through the collaborative efforts of military officials and civilian policymakers, contingent upon mutual cooperation. Students had the opportunity to attend lectures to discuss with their roundtables on issues of concern to the US military about current events and issues, such as civil-military relations in Latin America and North Africa and the insurrections against democracy. At the end of the conference, they participated in a simulation.
Each roundtable functioned as a single entity, akin to the UN, NATO, Congress, the White House, etc. Through this simulation, it was clear how challenging the cooperation of civil policymakers and military officials is, how demanding the coordination between different institutions and organizations is, and how complex decision-making is for military officials under time pressure. Participating in the conference, meeting new people, and making friends from across the globe is undoubtedly an experience they will never forget.
