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Executive Course | A.Y 2026-2027

Global Political Change

 

Crash Course on Global Political Transformations

 

 

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Language Italian
Location Milan
When November 20, 2026-March 6, 2027
Delivery Mode In-person
Attendance Part-time, Weekend
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Overview

The transformations that are affecting the international system, contemporary democracies and global geopolitical balances require interpretative tools capable of going beyond the immediacy of current events and the fragmentation of public debate.  
 
ASIRI's Executive Programme in Global Political Change was created to offer an advanced training course dedicated to the major issues of contemporary international politics.

Through six intensive modules, the programme explores some of the most relevant challenges of the global scenario: the new Middle East after the Gulf War, the relationship between innovation, technology and security, the renewed role of public and cultural diplomacy, the evolution of China as a global political player, the transformations of liberal democracies. 
 
The Programme, aimed at students, scholars and professionals and delivered through an intensive Executive  formula, aims to provide participants with interpretative categories, analytical tools and multidisciplinary perspectives to understand the main dynamics of global politics, orient themselves in the contemporary international debate and act with greater awareness in their professional and academic career.

Participants in the Executive Programme in Global Political Change will develop the following knowledge and skills at the end of the courses: 

Knowledge:

  • Evolution and Crisis of the Liberal International Order;

  • Dynamics of competition between great powers and hegemonic transitions;

  • Main areas of crisis and geopolitical reconfiguration (Middle East, China);

  • Impact of technological innovations on international relations and security.

Skills:

  • Initial ability to critically interpret complex international events and scenarios, linking political, economic and technological dynamics in an interdisciplinary key;

  • Use of the main analytical categories of Political Science and International Relations to interpret conflicts, crises and global transformations;

  • Evaluation of strategies and behaviors of international actors;

  • Ability to orient oneself in the international public debate with greater awareness and autonomy of judgment;  

  • Development of a comparative approach in the analysis of global political dynamics;

  • Effective communication of complex issues related to international politics.

Structure and program

The course is delivered in Executive formula and takes place in presence at ASERI and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. The training activities are divided into modules distributed between Friday and Saturday, from November 2026 to March 2027.

 

The Executive Programme in Global Political Change has a total duration of 54 hours of training and is structured in six thematic modules, called ASERI Intensive, dedicated to the analysis of the main transformations of contemporary international politics.

Each ASERI Intensive includes 9 hours of teaching activities and includes:

  • seminar lectures;  

  • moments of discussion and discussion with teachers;

  • networking opportunities between participants, academics and professionals.

The course will be delivered in Italian. However, there will be some speeches in English, suitably indicated. The module "Refocusing Public Diplomacy for a Dangerous World" will be held in English.  

The course will end with a final day dedicated to the summary of the work and the delivery of certificates of participation to the students who have completed the entire program.

The ASERI Intensive Modules will be carried out on the following days:

 

1. Friday 20 (9.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m.) and Saturday 21 (9.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.) November 2026

The new Middle East after the Gulf War: Iran, Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear issue

 

Scientific coordination: Riccardo Redaelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

2. Friday 27 (9.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m.) and Saturday 28 (9.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.) November 2026

Refocusing Public Diplomacy for a Dangerous World


Scientific coordination: Federica Olivares, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Nicholas J. Cull, USC Annenberg – School of Communication and Journalism

3. Friday 22 (9.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m.) and Saturday 23 (9.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.) January 2027

From gunpowder to artificial intelligence. Technological innovations, security and conflicts

 

Scientific coordination: Andrea Locatelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

4. Friday 29 (9.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m.) and Saturday 30 (9.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.) January 2027

The new Middle East after the Gulf War: Regional powers, new alliances and geopolitical competition

 

Scientific coordination: Paolo Maggiolini, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

5. Friday 5 February (9.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m.) and Saturday 6 (9.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.) February 2027

Changing China: Reading contemporary China through some key concepts of the official discourse

 

Scientific coordination: Asia Marcantoni, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

6. Friday 5 (9.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m.) and Saturday 6 (9.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.) March 2027

Liberal democracies put to the test: internal changes and external influences

 

Scientific coordination: Antonio Campati, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Valerio Alfonso Bruno, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

March 2027

Final day

Lectures will take place in person at ASERI and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan

The course is promoted by ASERI, Graduate School of Economics and International Relations, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

 

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTION

Damiano Palano, Full Professor of Political Philosophy, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

 

TEACHERS

  • Valerio Alfonso Bruno, Research Fellow, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;
  • Antonio Campati, Associate Professor of Political Philosophy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;
  • Andrea Locatelli, Professor of Political Science, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;  
  • Paolo Maggiolini, Associate Professor of Asian History and Institutions, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;   
  • Asia Marcantoni, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;  
  • Federica Olivares, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart;
  • Riccardo Redaelli, Professor of History and Institutions of Asia, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

  • Students enrolled in the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore whoattend the entire course may be awarded 3 ECTS, according to the procedures provided by the Faculty;
  • Participants who have attended one or more single modules will be issued a certificate of participation by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore;
  • Participants in the entire course who have attended at least 70% of the lessons will be issued a certificate of participation and the Open Badge of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart for the enhancement of the skills acquired.

Participants

  • Graduate degree students, preferably enrolled in the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Economics, Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures, Law, Banking and Insurance Sciences;

  • Young professionals working in the field of international affairs, or interested in deepening the most current global issues;

  • Senior professionals interested in an update on the trend of contemporary international politics;

  • ASERI alumni. 

Admissions and costs

There are three ways to enrol in the Executive Programme in Global Political Change:

  • enrolment in the Executive Programme in Global Political Change in its entirety (by 15 November 2026);

  • registration for the two modules "The New Middle East after the Gulf War" (by 15 November 2026)

It is possible to register for the Executive Programme in Global Political Change, including six modules and a final day, at the price of €800 including VAT by 15 November 2026, through the following form: 

Register here

It is possible to register for the two modules "The New Middle East after the Gulf War", at the discounted price of €300 including VAT, by 15 November 2026, through the following form: 

Register here

 

It is possible to register for the individual modules at the price of €200 including VAT by the following dates, and at the links below:

  • The new Middle East after the Gulf War: Iran, Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear issue

Application deadline: 15 November 2026

Form Date: Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, 2026 
Sign up here

 

  • Refocusing Public Diplomacy for a Dangerous World 

Application deadline: 22 November 2026

Form Date: Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28, 2026
Sign up here
 

  • From gunpowder to artificial intelligence. Technological innovations, security and conflicts

Application deadline: 17 January 2027

Form Date: Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23, 2027

Sign up here
 

  • The new Middle East after the Gulf War: Regional powers, new alliances and geopolitical competition

Application deadline: 24 January 2027

Form Date: Friday, January 29-Saturday, January 30, 2027

Sign up here
 

  • Changing China: Reading contemporary China through some key concepts of the official discourse

Application deadline: 31 January 2027

Form Date: Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6, 2027

Sign up here
 

  • Liberal democracies put to the test: internal changes and external influences

Application deadline: 28 February 2027

Form Date: Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6, 2027
Sign up here

  • Registration fee for the Executive Programme in Global Political Change: €800 including VAT for participation in the six modules.
  • Registration fee for a single module: €200 euros including VAT.
  • Registration fee for the two modules "The new Middle East after the Gulf War": €300 including VAT.

 

Payment methods:

  • Credit card from the online registration web page

  • Bank transfer 
    The bank details will be provided at the time of registration.  
    Once the payment has been made, please send a copy of the transfer to info.aseri@unicatt.it

     

  • Teacher's Charter
    • For the modules from November 2026 to February 2027, it applies only to the Teacher's Card 2025/26;
    • For the March 2027 module, it also applies to the Teacher's Card 2026/27.

 

The registration fee is non-refundable except in the case of non-activation of the course and in any case within the terms set out in the Activation and Withdrawal Procedures.

The following concessions are provided for the following categories:

  • 50% for students enrolled in ASERI Masters for the academic years 25/26 and 26/27;

  • 20% for those who enrol in the entire course by 25 October 2026 (Early bird discounts);

  • 20% for ASERI Alumni (former students of Masters, Executive courses, Summer Schools);

  • 10% for high school and university graduates enrolled in the Premium Services of the UCSC Alumni Community.
     

The discounts provided are not cumulative.

For further information on the programme, faculty and board, write to:

info.aseri@unicatt.it