Speaking on the sidelines of Young BSF, the youth programme that preceded the main Bled Strategic Forum on 31 August and 1 September, Matic Kosirnik, President of YATA Slovenia (the youth section of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia), which helped steer this year's workshops, shared his perspective on the role of young people in shaping the future of the Euro-Atlantic world.
This is what defines our generation — a generation of young people who are often referred to as the "leaders of the future". Yet many young people are already actively participating in debates, organisations, and policymaking today. The question, therefore, is no longer what kind of responsibility we will one day take on, but what responsibility we already have today.
A generation that understands security differently
Kosirnik points out a clear generational difference in how security is understood. In his view, the way security is perceived today is fundamentally different from how it was understood decades ago. During the Cold War, he explains, the state was essentially the primary object of security — what had to be secured and defended. The focus was on the state's position, power and ability to defend itself, while the international system was understood primarily as a system of states. After the end of the Cold War, the understanding of security broadened and deepened. Security took on many dimensions, not only military, but also economic, political, environmental and societal. We also speak of global security and human security.
Nevertheless, the current strategic environment demonstrates that conventional interstate warfare, and, more broadly, the traditional military power dimension, is not a thing of the past. It is therefore important to understand that traditional state and military security, rooted in the Cold War understanding of security, is once again at the forefront. As threats change, so too do the measures used to ensure security and safety.
All these dimensions are interconnected, making security and defence inherently complex. This can sometimes make it difficult for young people to understand why certain measures, such as investing in defence, are important.
Euro-Atlantic values cannot be taken for granted
For the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia, the starting point lies in the values underpinning the European Union and NATO: individual liberty, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, human dignity, equality, and freedom. These values bind us and form the foundation of the Euro-Atlantic community. But knowing these values alone is not enough. If we want to preserve them, we must understand them, stand up for them and know how to defend them.
Kosirnik recognises the importance of these values while also pointing to another important aspect: "Societies often strive toward similar goals but pursue them through different means and understand them through different experiences". That is precisely why connecting people across borders matters — to build mutual understanding and find common ground, and creating spaces where different generations and perspectives can meet has become increasingly important.
Young people are no longer just observers
Although it may often seem that young people still do not have enough space in strategic decision-making, the situation today is nevertheless different from what it was several decades ago. Kosirnik believes that young people have made significant progress in terms of participation. He points out that opportunities available to young people today did not exist in previous years. However, taking advantage of these opportunities requires them to be active and engaged. Ultimately, much depends on personal initiative, such as work in public administration, internships, joining organisations and writing articles.
Young people may not be directly responsible for making final decisions, but, as Kosirnik puts it, their input can influence decision-makers indirectly if they remain active and engaged. While decision-makers retain the final say, young people can still shape discussions, contribute ideas and perspectives, and thereby have a meaningful indirect impact.
A new generation shaping the future of security
When we talk about the greatest security challenges facing the younger generation, it is almost impossible to give a single answer. Among the challenges particularly relevant to young people, Kosirnik highlights their exposure to hybrid threats, particularly disinformation.
At the same time, he stresses that the security environment cannot be divided into simple categories. This is why it is no longer enough for a state to consider only how it would respond to a military attack; it must take many other dimensions into account. What is needed is a comprehensive approach in which the emphasis placed on each dimension depends on the specific threats and the security environment. At present, he adds, defence is once again at the forefront, alongside measures aimed at protecting our societies against hybrid threats.
The security expert of the future, therefore, will not be able to rely solely on knowledge of the military sphere, even though it remains very important. They will need a strategic understanding informed by history, political science, law, international relations, technology, economics, culture and other fields. The key word is multidisciplinarity, says Kosirnik.
He emphasises the importance of a broad perspective while warning that breadth without focus is not enough. It is necessary to understand the different dimensions of a problem and maintain a strategic view without becoming lost in the sheer volume of information.
For the future security expert, the challenge is therefore to combine both: breadth and focus.
Perhaps the same applies to our generation as a whole. We do not need to wait until we become policymakers, diplomats or security experts to become part of the discussion. If we want to influence the decisions that will shape our future, we must first make sure our voices are part of the conversation. As Kosirnik puts it: "If we want to be part of these discussions, or part of decision-making, we have to participate in the conversation. That means showing interest and getting involved."