2013 Independence? Lessons Learned by a Recently Independent State in Europe

The Glasgow Global Security Network is hosting a series of public lectures on the theme of 'Security and an Independent Scotland'. The next lecture in the series is 'Independence? Lessons learned by a recently independent state in Europe.' by Ivo Samson. 

About the speaker

Ivo Samson is currently the Director of the Slovak Ministry of Defense affiliated “Institute of Security and Defense Studies”. Previous to this post he was the Head of the International Security Programme at the Research Center of the Slovak Policy Association. His research focus is primarily on the security and defense of Central Europe with special attention given to the role and place of the European Union, OSCE and NATO. He has published extensively on the geopolitical position of Central Europe in English, Slovak and German. One of his main works was the Security and Foreign Policy of Slovakia in the First Years of Independence (2000).

About the lecture

It this lecture, Ivo Samson seeks to draw some analogies for Scotland about Slovakia’s experience of the Velvet Divorce and challenges it faced as a newly independent state in Europe. He will examine some of the specific features of Slovakia’s independence after the division of Czechoslovakia including the technical problems and details with special focus on security aspects. Recognizing that the cases of Scotland and Slovakia are not identical, a lot of analogies do still exist and can help us better understand the possible implications of independence and a Tartan Divorce between Scotland and the rest of the UK. 

Event Details

The lecture will be held at the Senate Room, Main Building, on Thursday 23 May 2013, with doors opening at 5pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

Whilst the event is free, pre-registration is required. You can register online here: Independence? Lessons learned by a recently independent state in Europe.

For any queries, or to hear about similar events in the future, please contact Bicola Barratt-Crane, Development Officer for the College of Arts and Social Sciences, on Bicola.Barratt-Crane@glasgow.ac.uk or 0141 330 7148.