ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Foreign Policy Academy is Stockholm Free World Forum’s year-long flagship training program for emerging foreign and security policy experts, decision-makers, and opinion leaders. 

WHO IS THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS ACADEMY FOR?

The program is open to young professionals with a strong interest and/or experience in foreign and security policy. Previous participants come from diverse backgrounds, including political parties, NGOs, academia, research, journalism, government agencies, and the business sector. The Foreign Policy Academy has been held since 2014 and is designed for individuals approximately between the ages of 20 and 30.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The one-year program consists of approximately five full-day seminars, each structured around different thematic areas, and one study trip. Director Anna Rennéus Guthrie is the head of the academy.

LECTURERS

Notable lecturers include: Carl Bildt, Former Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs; Oscar Jonson, Swedish Defence University; Gudrun Persson, Research Director at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Anders Lindberg, Political Editor-in-Chief at Aftonbladet; Björn Jerdén, Director of the Swedish National China Centre, Hanna Linderstål, CEO of Earhart Business Protection Agency.

STUDY TRIPS

A core aspect of the program is a study trip meet with local officials, journalists, and the business sector. Previous study trips have included Washington, London, Berlin, Brussels/NATO HQ, Riga, Tallinn, Copenhagen and Helsinki. 

SCHOLARSHIPS

Since 2017, in honor of the Academy’s founder Mats Johansson, a scholarship has been awarded to exceptional participants for further studies or an internship. 

ALUMNI

Participants and alumni are given the opportunity to write reports for Stockholm Free World Forum and publish blog posts on the blog “Säkerhetsrådet”. The Foreign Affairs Academy hosts an active alumni network, who receive invitations to exclusive conferences and seminars.

APPLICATION

Applications for the 2026 Foreign Affairs Academy will open in the Fall of 2025.