In addition to the already existing classic security issues (e.g. military defense and border security), recent years have brought a marked increase to the unconventional security challenges faced by EU and its neighbors. These new issues somewhat differ from their conventional counterparts, in that they reach beyond state borders and thus are more international and inter-sectoral in nature. Today, traditional threats and warfare have given up their methods to hybrid ones which require new capacities. In the upcoming years, we can expect unconventional threats to be the cause of more and more international friction, as already visible in some parts of the world. They may be non-military issues that disturb regional tranquility and international peace. Both EU and its neighboring regions face these unconventional security threats alike.

Some of these pressing issues include, but are not limited to:

• ■ violence, terrorism, internal uprisings/conflicts;
• ■ human security and humanitarian issues;
• ■ socio-cultural dissonance and intolerance (e.g. xenophobia, discrimination, racism, radicalism);
• ■ unregulated migration;
• ■ financial security, economic issues and trade relations related to social and regional integration problems (e.g. resource scarcity, bureaucratic discord, securitization of economic relations, money laundering and major financial scams);
• ■ cyber-security;
• ■ energy security;
• ■ organized crime;
• ■ climate change and environmental threats.

Our workshop was motivated by the idea that discussing and forming efficient universal responses to these (un)conventional challenges in academia and policy circles that would benefit from a deeper understanding of how they are perceived by the exposed/affected actors. (e.g. non-state actors, states, third parties). Specifically, to reach a common, effective, and coordinated response by Europeans and its neighbors we would need to explore and promote the paths to building a common understanding of what and how a topic constitutes an (un)conventional security threat (i.e., reach or build a common threat perception).

The agenda structure can be seen in details — http://powers-network.vsu.ru/UserFiles/files/events/2020/DEU/Draft_agenda_workshop_Izmir2020.pdf.

Dr. Çağnur Balsarı, Professor, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business of Dokuz Eylul Universityofficially opened the conference. Dr. Gül M. Kurtoğlu Eskişar, Professor, Coordinator of POWERS Network in Dokuz Eylul University then took the floor to welcome participants to the event.