The Africa Center for Strategic Studies offers the only continent-wide, apolitical forum to examine several broad areas, including civil-military relations, security studies, defense economics, and conflict studies, among others related to the nations of Africa. As events in Africa place new stresses on African leaders, these Center seminars, activities, and events develop important networks among African, American, and international military and civilian professionals who are then better equipped to confront challenges to the continent’s peace and stability.
Junior Officers Counterterrorism Fellowship Seminar - ACSS and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point convene a joint combating terrorism seminar for junior military and civilian officers to discuss different facets of the terrorism and combating terrorism problem and to build synergy. The overall goal of the seminar is to help participants gain insights into the strategic and policy implications of the terrorism threat and response within Africa as well as engage in a dialogue about U.S. and African combating terrorism efforts. The long-term product is a future knowledge network that can be activated spontaneously in the event of a major terrorist incident in Africa and elsewhere, since any such attack would likely affect both U.S. and African interests.
Senior Leader Seminar (SES) – this series was launched in 1999 as a means for Africans and their international partners to reflect collectively on the key strategic challenges Africa faces in the security realm. Through the Senior Leader seminars, the Africa Center seeks to promote critical analysis and a spirit of cooperation and collaboration in addressing Africa’s security challenges. These seminars provide a forum for military and civilian leaders from across the continent to share their experiences and work toward joint solutions to their common problems. The seminar program is divided into four modules — combating terrorism, security studies, civil-military relations, and the economics of security — and concludes with a Capstone Exercise.
The mission of the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS) is to conduct educational activities for civilians and the military in the Western Hemisphere to foster trust, mutual understanding, regional cooperation and partner capacity. CHDS offers a three-tiered approach tailored to the needs of those dealing with security and defense challenges in the region. Through Foundational Activities, Sustainment, and Strategic Interaction, CHDS enhances understanding and relationships critical to effective security and defense policies. Key topics include countering ideological support for terrorism, harmonizing views on common security challenges, education on defense and security in civil societies, and building the capacity of partners' national security institutions consistent with the norms of civil-military relations.
Interagency Coordination and Counterterrorism (ICCT) seminar is a three-week course that addresses ways to Counter Ideological Support for Terrorism (CIST), and to establish/expand Communities of Influence in support of the GWOT. This course focuses on the requirements to prepare, coordinate, resource and execute a national GWOT support policy incorporating lessons learned from USG and the other nations and, to date – has resulted in enhanced CT modification and amendments to National Security Strategy (NSS) and White Papers.
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies is the preeminent U.S. Government institution for building relationships and understanding in the NESA region. The Center fosters open communication and educational opportunities for military and civilian representatives from the NESA region and other participating countries. Our academic environment uniquely facilitates a cross-cultural examination of the events, ideas, and challenges that shape this critical region.
Executive Seminar on Combating Terrorism - “Conflict without Borders: Terrorism and Insurgency in the New Security Environment.” The seminar’s mission is to foster long-term relationships and common understanding of shared problems in order to develop effective, collaborative responses. Participants in the two-week seminar will examine the nature of the new security environment with special attention on the legal and moral environment of international terrorism, the background sources for terrorism, international mechanisms that support terrorist organizations and the U.S. and international environment for responding.