Summer Program: Parliamentary Democracy in Europe.

Parliaments and war: from diplomacy to security

The fifteenth edition of the Summer Program in Parliamentary Democracy in Europe, organized by the Luiss School of Government, in collaboration with the Luiss Center for Parliamentary Studies (CESP) and with the European Law & Governance School (ELGS) of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), will take place in July 2026. This year topic is “Parliaments and war: from diplomacy to security”.

War and security crises have returned to the centre of the European and global political agenda, raising fundamental questions about the role of parliaments in times of conflict and emergency. From foreign policy and diplomatic action to defence governance and intelligence oversight, legislatures are increasingly called upon to operate in complex and rapidly evolving contexts.

Parliaments are therefore confronted with significant challenges, both in terms of institutional balance and democratic accountability. The exercise of legislative and oversight functions becomes particularly delicate in areas such as military operations, security policies, and international cooperation, where the need for effectiveness must be reconciled with the principles of transparency, constitutionalism, and the rule of law.

By applying research-based knowledge and professional skills to the study of the role of parliaments in situations of war and security crises, the Summer Program offers a comprehensive and updated overview of these dynamics. This Advanced Course provides participants with the analytical tools necessary to understand how parliamentary institutions respond to contemporary geopolitical challenges.

The Summer Program is designed for: graduates, doctoral students and post-docs active in the field of constitutional law, human rights, political science, parliamentary and legislative studies, European studies, and international affairs (preferably with a background in social sciences); civil servants from European institutions and bodies, international organizations, and national and subnational institutions; as well as professionals working in NGOs, think tanks, and interest groups interested in parliamentary responses to major geopolitical transformations.

The Summer Program will include lectures and interactive activities, such as exercises, discussions, and institutional visits.

The summer program will include a series of lectures and other interactive activities, such as exercises and presentations by participants (as well as a visit to the Italian Chambers).