Neurophilosophy of Global Security 2027

Created by Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan, this course explores the unsettling truth: our political choices are not always rational, and morality is more flexible than we think. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience and philosophy, we uncover how emotions, ego, and evolution influence everything from diplomacy to war.

Traditional political theory assumes we’re rational actors. But the science says otherwise. By understanding the neurological and psychological roots of human behaviour, we can rethink how leaders lead, how states act, and how societies respond to crisis and conflict.

This is not your typical global security training.

We go beneath ideology - into the biology of belief, behaviour, and power.

• Explore "Emotional Amoral Egoism" as a neurophilosophical model of human motivation, integrating insights from cognition, affect, and decision-making;
• Apply neurophilosophical frameworks to anticipate political transitions through the lens of how brains process threat, trust, and group identity;
• Use these insights to design security policies that account for the neurocognitive drivers of conflict, escalation, and cooperation;

• Engage with leading thinkers working at the intersection of neuroscience, philosophy of mind, and international relations.

   

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Decode how neuroscience informs global decision-making and security policy;
• Analyse power, conflict, and diplomacy through the lens of human cognition;
• Understand how cognitive enhancement, AI, and brain science are reshaping ethics, governance, and the future of humanity.

This course is designed for:

• Government and international organization officials;
• Policy advisors, security analysts, and intelligence professionals;
• Leaders in the private sector, think tanks, NGOs, and media;
• Anyone shaping - or questioning - the future of global security and human behaviour.

15% Early-Bird Discount if you apply before 9 November 2027. GCSP Alumni qualify for a 20% discount on the standard rate of 500 CHF.