Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University is pleased to announce the 2026 Defense and Security Conference (DSC 2026) — an international, multidisciplinary academic event that will take place in Zagreb, Croatia, on April 23–24, 2026.
The conference will provide a platform for scientists, professionals, educators, and students to share knowledge, present research findings, and engage in open dialogue on current and future challenges in the field of defense and security.
Download – Call for Papers (PDF)
Conference Themes
Participants are invited to submit research papers addressing theoretical, methodological, or empirical topics in line with the Conference’s three primary thematic areas:
- Strategic Concepts
- Disruptive Technologies and Warfare
- Defence Economics
In addition to the core areas, DSC 2026 encourages submissions that reflect broader, cross-cutting topics and pressing contemporary challenges in defense and security studies. The following guiding themes are especially welcome:
European Defence Initiatives
- Critical reflections on the emerging European Defence White Paper and its implications for strategic autonomy, capability development, and transatlantic cooperation.
- Policy integration, joint procurement, and operational interoperability among EU and NATO members.
Lessons Identified from the War in Ukraine
- Tactical and strategic implications of drone warfare, loitering munitions, electronic warfare, and decentralised battlefield awareness.
- The role of civilian infrastructure, energy resilience, and societal preparedness in modern conflict.
- Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) developments in contested environments.
Multidomain Operations (MDO) as a Future Operational Framework
- Conceptual and doctrinal development of MDO across land, air, sea, cyber, and space.
- Interoperability and synchronization across domains and levels of command.
- Human-machine teaming, data fusion, and decision dominance in high-intensity and grey zone conflict scenarios.
Broader thematic contributions are also welcome in the following areas:
- Crisis management, societal resilience, and homeland security
- Legal and ethical aspects of emerging defence technologies
- Civil-military relations and military education reform
- Strategic communication, public policy, and influence operations
- Hybrid threats, cyber defence, and information warfare
We particularly encourage interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research that connects operational practice, technological innovation, and strategic foresight.
