Course Structure & Faculty
This year’s Olympia Summer Academy will run in two parallel course-cycles:
(Geo)Political Risk Analysis
Global China
July 14-19, 2026
European Cultural Centre of Delphi
Delphi, Greece
A: (Geo)Political Risk Analysis
Over the last decade, financial investors and multinational corporations have become more aware of the need to “go beyond economics” and integrate (geo)political factors into their decision-making processes. From rising populism in developed economies to increased political instability in emerging markets and geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, politics are central to the most important events shaping global markets and the world economy.
The objective of the course is to explore the ways in which political risk can be analyzed and managed in a business-relevant and forward-looking manner. The module is structured to provide participants with a theoretical understanding of (geo)political risk as well as practical frameworks and analytical tools for identifying and measuring the key political risk dynamics that can affect business and government. Case-studies and simulations involving emerging markets and developed economies will be used to provide participants with “hands-on” experience for understanding and managing risk. A wide range of topics and issues will be discussed during the course, including nationalization, expropriation, conflict, macro-economic (in)stability, sanctions, migration, sovereign debt crises, social unrest, and elections.
Faculty
Kristin Fabbe, Professor of Business and Comparative Politics, School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute.
Wolfango Piccoli, Co-president and Director of Research, Teneo.
B: Global China
The emergence of China as a power with global interests in the 21st century has been interpreted in different ways. Where some see peaceful intentions driven by developmental priorities, others argue that China represents a political and military threat, with each side projecting their own aspirations and insecurities about the future. The course will prompt participants to carefully examine the domestic and global dynamics that shape the rise of China and think for themselves about the challenges it entails. We will first explore the key stages of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) transformation from a revolutionary-military organization in the 1940s to a technocratic developmental regime in the 1980s and a confident autocracy with global aspirations in the 2010s. The domestic perspectives will cover the system of governance that the CCP has developed, the main characteristics of its version of capitalism, and key themes in state-society relations. Moving to the global dimension, participants will examine China’s security interests and international behaviour, as well as unpack the Belt and Road Initiative as a platform for the promotion of Chinese economic and other priorities.
Faculty
Margatita Dimova, Chief of Staff, Africa Practice.
Igor Rogelja, Associate Professor in Global Politics, University College London.
Konstantinos Tsimonis, Assistant Professor in Chinese Politics at Panteion University, and Academic Lead of the Institute of International Relations (IDIS) China Program.
Application Process & Fees
The application should include the following material:
1) a CV;
2) a letter of recommendation; and,
3) the registration form
Participation Fee: 650€
It includes:
Accommodation in double occupancy rooms at the premises of the European Cultural Centre of Delphi
Breakfast and lunch
Transportation from Athens to Delphi and back
Tuition and reading material
Counseling and cultural activities
Registration Fee: 50€ (non-refundable, paid upon admission to secure a place).
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships (covering tuition and amounting to €300) are available. Students in financial need are strongly encouraged to apply early. Scholarships will be awarded on a merit and need basis, with priority given to early applicants.
Visa
Admitted foreign students will receive the necessary documentation to support a visa application. Applicants from outside the Schengen Area are advised to apply early to allow sufficient time for visa processing
Application deadline: January 31 , 2026.
For further inquiries or assistance, please contact the Olympia Summer Academy team at:
E: [email protected]
