SLU-Madrid Hosts Seminar on International Relations
04/10/2025
As the global balance of power continues to shift amid war, rising tensions and technological disruption, Saint Louis University-Madrid hosted a daylong seminar on Wednesday, April 9, to examine the consequences for international relations.
The event, titled "Contemporary Crises and the Shifting Balance of Power in International Relations," brought together scholars, diplomats and policy experts to explore whether the world is moving toward multipolarity or a breakdown of global order.
"The idea is for us to reflect on the realities of the world through what we hope will be a series of conferences that are meant to reflect," said Barah Makaïl, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the master's program in political science and international relations at SLU-Madrid, who introduced the event.
The seminar featured three expert panels. The first, "Strategic Rivalries and the Global Power Struggle," focused on the ambitions and strategies of major powers including the United States, Russia, China and the European Union, as well as rising actors like India and South Korea. Speakers debated whether the U.S. will retain global leadership after the Trump presidency and what a reconfigured Asia might mean for world politics.
The second panel, "New Frontiers of Power: Technology, Economics, and Emerging Diplomacy," examined how power is shifting through economic leverage, defense spending, and the growing influence of nontraditional diplomatic players. Panelists discussed issues such as the long-term risks of prioritizing military budgets over social spending, and the evolving dynamics of U.S.-Russia relations through the lens of the Ukraine war.
The final session, "Regional Flashpoints and Global Security in a Fragmented World," addressed complex crises in the Middle East and beyond. Topics included the geopolitics of hunger, Iran’s changing posture, and the continuing significance of the Middle East and North Africa region. Humanitarian and strategic challenges were central to the discussion.
The seminar was organized by SLU-Madrid's Department of Political Science in collaboration with the St. Louis campus.
Held at the San Ignacio Hall Auditorium on the university's Madrid campus, the conference drew students, academics and professionals eager to explore the challenges of a rapidly evolving world order.
From climate change to great power rivalries, the day's conversations pointed to a common conclusion: the global system is undergoing profound transformation.
The seminar is expected to be the first in a series of academic forums at SLU-Madrid aimed at fostering critical debate on global issues.