Last week, NATO Allied Command Transformation hosted scholars from The Global Research Institute at The College of William & Mary for the second consecutive year. This visit was part of the students’ studies in International Organizations, aiming to provide them with an in-depth understanding of NATO’s operations and its place within the broader international landscape.
The purpose of this visit was multi-faceted. Firstly, it aimed to familiarize the students with NATO and Allied Command Transformation, offering insights into their core missions, challenges, and values. Additionally, the visit served as a preparatory step for the students’ upcoming visit to NATO Headquarters in March, providing them with a foundational knowledge of NATO’s structure and functions.
The students, enrolled in the “Principal Agent Theory and International Organizations” course at William & Mary, explore the intricacies of policy decision-making and implementation within international organizations. Through this course, they analyse various factors that influence policy choices and their execution across different issue areas and institutions at the international level.
One of the unique aspects of this course is its emphasis on direct engagement with policymakers, staff members, and opinion leaders. By hearing first-hand accounts of policy decision-making and implementation processes, students gain valuable insights that supplement their theoretical studies. This approach equips them with a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in international policy work.
Following their visit to NATO Allied Command Transformation, the students will continue their studies by traveling to Western Europe. During this trip, they will focus on studying European institutions such as NATO Headquarters, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as well as other international organizations based in Belgium and Paris.
The visit of William & Mary scholars to NATO Allied Command Transformation represents a valuable opportunity for students to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the field of international organizations. Through first-hand experiences and interactions, students are better prepared to contribute meaningfully to the study and analysis of international policy and organizations.
