Date/Time: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 / 10:10-11:40

Alliances forged in the aftermath of the Second World War provided the foundation for peace and prosperity in both Europe and Asia. Yet the assumptions that sustained these arrangements, such as U.S. primacy, clear adversaries, and consensus on common threats, are under strain. Today, U.S. unpredictability and the rise of authoritarian regimes demand a reassessment of alliance frameworks. This plenary session will explore how the legacy of postwar alliances can inform the task of modernization, debating how institutions designed for the twentieth century must evolve to remain effective pillars of security in the twenty first century.