ATHENALAB 2021

This year 2021, like the previous one, was not without difficulties caused by the pandemic and the complex global political-economic situation. Meanwhile, at the domestic level, a crowded electoral scenario has emerged over the last 18 months, including a plebiscite for a new Constitution and the election of the next president, all amid acute polarization.

In this climate of uncertainty, AthenaLab has continued to work diligently to contribute ideas and concrete public policy proposals in the areas of International Relations, Security, and Defense, through documents, meetings, conferences, and media participation.

Following the launch of our first book, “Challenges for Security and Defense in the American Continent 2020-2030”, we began this year focused on its dissemination through articles in journals such as “Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica” and conferences at the William J. Perry Center in Washington.

We also addressed current issues with comments and analyses on topics related to drug trafficking and organized crime, the situation in La Araucanía, Argentina’s claims in the southern region, the AUKUS initiative, among others. All these documents can be downloaded HERE.

As we await the inauguration of a new government, we want to highlight the publication of the “Second Survey on Perceptions of Foreign Policy and National Security”, which contains important data regarding Chileans’ perceptions on International Relations, Security, and Defense; particularly concerning the main interests and threats observed today, as well as the role the country should play in the world.

On the other hand, in 2021 our Working Papers focused on dispelling prejudices and clarifying concepts about the Armed Forces: their functions and competencies; fundamental aspects of the military profession; pension systems, and their role in the current and future Constitution.

Our institutional relationships were also deepened through understanding agreements reached with the Council on Geostrategy from the United Kingdom and SAGE International from Australia. Additionally, we provided lectures to audiences at Georgetown University, the Argentine Council for International Relations, the National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies, the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, the Institute of International Studies at the University of Chile, and Sofofa, among others. Members of AthenaLab also published articles in prestigious journals such as “UNISCI” from the Complutense University of Spain; “Conflits” from France, and “Diplomacy” from the Diplomatic Academy of Chile, while also contributing chapters to the book “Chile-Singapore: A Bridge to and from the Asia-Pacific”.

We also highlight the incorporation of distinguished international scholars as Senior Fellows of AthenaLab , including James Holmes, professor of the J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College in the United States, and Evan Ellis, research professor of Latin American Studies at the U.S. Army War College.

It was also a year of great speakers, such as James R. Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence of the United States; Bill Hayton, Associate Fellow in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House; Admiral USN (ret.) James Stavridis, former NATO and Southern Command Chief; General USAF (ret.) Robert Latiff; the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Chile Louise de Sousa, among others (see all HERE). Despite the obstacles imposed by the pandemic, we even had the privilege of receiving in person Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy.

Regarding elections, we held two discussions with international, security, and defense advisors from the various presidential candidates; one of them in partnership with the Center for International Studies at the Catholic University. We also published comparative analyses of programmatic proposals.

Finally, for the second consecutive year, we organized with the Navy and KnowHub the AVANTE Challenge 2021, which aims to enhance local technological innovation solutions for challenges faced by the Navy, a project that has gained significant public relevance in the country.

Thank you very much to those who followed us in this fruitful 2021. We wish everyone a Happy New Year and invite you to join us in a 2022 filled with projects to work for a free, secure, and prosperous Chile.