Risks and threats to International Peace

General Information

This intensive five-day course (40 hours) provides advanced training on current and emerging threats to international peace and security, addressing in an integrated manner the links between armed conflicts, transnational organized crime, terrorism, radicalization, disinformation, and cyber threats.

Throughout the course, participants will examine how illicit economies, the proliferation of weapons, weak rule of law, and the erosion of the international legal order contribute to the prolongation of armed conflicts and the emergence of increasingly complex forms of violence, such as hybrid wars and protracted conflicts.

The module explores cases in which illicit activities (such as drug cultivation, mining, or illegal logging) sustain the livelihoods of vulnerable communities in the absence of viable economic alternatives, while simultaneously fueling violence, organized crime, and violent extremism.

It also examines contemporary phenomena such as disinformation, misinformation, and cyberattacks, understood as strategic tools in modern conflicts and as direct challenges to governance, institutional stability, and international peace.

The module combines an analytical and practical approach to understand the cause-and-effect relationships between organized crime, terrorism, radicalization, and armed conflicts. It also includes an analysis of international legal frameworks, comparing definitions and approaches to organized crime, terrorism, and transnational offenses, identifying similarities, differences, and cause-and-effect relationships, with an applied focus on prevention and international response.

Module Contents

The module covers the concepts, dynamics, and responses to modern threats to peace, including:

• Transnational organized crime
• Conflict economies and their relationship with violence
• Armed conflicts and protracted crises
• Terrorism and armed groups designated as terrorists
• Radicalization and violent extremism
• Disinformation and Misinformation
• Cyberattacks and cyber threats
• Hybrid warfare
• International legal order

Methodology

The methodology combines expert lectures, structured debates, case study analysis, role-playing exercises, and scenario simulations, promoting hands-on, participatory learning applied to real-world contexts.

This approach develops analytical and operational skills applicable in professional contexts related to security, international cooperation, and peacebuilding.

Format

• Intensive training: 1 week
• Modality: On-site
• Language: English
• Certification: Official Diploma from the International University Center for Peace Missions (IUCPM)

The course is delivered in small groups, allowing for personalized attention and encouraging the active participation of each attendee.

The programme features an international faculty with extensive experience as national and international security policy consultants, specialists in dialogue processes with armed actors, government advisors, and more. It also brings together a diverse cohort of participants from different nationalities and sectors, promoting experience exchange and the development of global professional networks.

Target Audience

This course is designed for professionals and individuals in training who wish to specialize in security, conflict prevention, and complex threat management. It is particularly relevant for:

• Professionals from international organizations, NGOs, and public administrations working in conflict prevention, organized crime, and transnational risk management.
• Armed Forces personnel, security forces, and intelligence agencies involved in security operations, counter-terrorism, or cybersecurity.
• Lecturers and researchers in security, conflict, and international policy.
• Students of international relations, political science, sociology, and peace studies who wish to specialize in complex threats and armed conflicts.
• Individuals seeking to develop strategic competencies to lead initiatives in conflict prevention and crisis management in national and international contexts.

Upcoming Edition

The next edition will take place from June 14th to June 18th, 2027.

REACT

The course Threats to International Peace is one of the five modules that make up REACT, Helsinki España’s comprehensive programme designed to train professionals in rapid response, international cooperation, and peacebuilding.

The other modules of the programme cover:

• Conflict Analysis and Transformation
• Protection of Civilians and the International Legal Framework
• Peacekeeping Strategies
• Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)

The modules are generally delivered once a year. Each module can be taken independently in different editions, depending on the participant’s availability. Upon completion of all modules, participants obtain the official OSCE “REACT” certification, which validates comprehensive training as an Expert Team for Rapid Assistance and Cooperation. In addition, those who enroll in more than one module may benefit from a discount.

Information document

General Information

 

Registration and Further Information:

To register or to resolve any questions, please send us an email to iucpm@helsinkiespana.org including:

• The completed registration form
• Your CV
• A passport-size photo.

If you would like more information, you can write to us at the same email address or send us your inquiry directly through this form: