Bio
Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe
Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe and Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali. She is also an independent non-executive director of the multi-utility company Acea. She has been Special Advisor to EU High Representatives Federica Mogherini and Josep Borrell. In that capacity, she wrote the
European Global Strategy and worked on its implementation. She is
Europe’s Futures fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences (Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen, IWM). She was Pierre Keller Visiting Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and, prior to joining Acea, she was independent board member first of Edison and then of Eni. She has held research positions at the Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels, the Transatlantic Academy, Washington, the European University Institute, Florence, and has taught at the College of Europe, Bruges. Her research interests include European integration and European foreign policy, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, transatlantic relations, multilateralism, conflict resolution, energy, climate and defense. Nathalie is a regular columnist on
The Guardian and
La Stampa, as well as being a regular panelist on BBC’s “The Context”. She has published in
Foreign Affairs, Politico, Financial Times, El Pais, Project Syndicate, and is often interviewed by all major international television and newspaper outlets. She is represented by
Chartwell Speakers and
Elastica.
Podcasts
Hiba Husseini on Staying the Course in the Pursuit of Peace (February 9, 2026)
Peace is rarely linear and often pursued under the most difficult conditions. Drawing on decades of legal and negotiating experience, Palestinian lawyer Hiba Husseini sits down with Amanda and Nathalie to discuss the current realities in the Middle East, the limits of diplomatic processes, and the importance of legal frameworks in moments of crisis. She highlights the importance of hope and explains why walking away has never been an option.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
Read more
Laura Chinchilla on Leading with Passion, Empathy, and Integrity (January 29, 2026)
As democratic norms feel increasingly fragile, Laura Chinchilla argues that political leadership can still be a force for good. The former president of Costa Rica speaks to Amanda and Nathalie about recent events in Venezuela while offering a hopeful lens on the broader multilateral system. She reflects on the pride and challenges of being Costa Rica's first woman president, the importance of holding the line against disinformation, and why public service can still be a source of purpose and integrity.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
Read more
Naomi Chazan on Democracy, Division, and the Work That Never Ends (January 12, 2026)
What does it take to sustain democracy in times of crisis? Naomi Chazan joins Amanda and Nathalie to remind us that democratic systems, like gardens, must be constantly tended. From Israel’s internal divisions to the global erosion of democratic norms, she explores the role of civil society, women’s leadership, and the never-ending work of keeping democracy alive.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
Read more
Rory Stewart on Curiosity, Courage, and Conviction (December 15, 2025)
What happens when political ideals collide with reality? Rory Stewart speaks to Amanda and Nathalie about the challenges confronting democracies on both sides of the Atlantic, and how social, technological, and political pressures are reshaping our world. He shares his personal reflections on finding your purpose, seeking new experiences, and maintaining integrity and perspective amid the demands of public life.
Rory Stewart is the author of Politics on the Edge and co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
Read more
Sylvie Goulard on Success, Failure, and Resilience (December 1, 2025)
What does resilience look like in public life? Sylvie Goulard joins Amanda and Nathalie to explore the political pressures, personal trials, and unexpected turns that have defined her career. From countering the rise of the far right to managing her own public setback, she reflects on the determination required to stay true to one’s values.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
Read more
Courses
- Geopolitics of Energy and Climate
Energy, climate change and the energy transition are upending international relations. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are generating new security risks and threats, while also impacting food security, migration and development. At the same time, rising geopolitical tensions, and in particular great power rivalry is reducing the ability of multilateral fora, such as the Conference of the Parties, to move forward global climate mitigation and adaptation. Energy, on its side, represents the dominant factor driving climate change. The energy transition towards green and clean energy therefore represents the key, albeit not the only one, to ensure the world reaches net zero by 2050. However, much like the fossil fuel-dominated energy system influenced international relations for decades, so does the transition to clean and green energy. Europe, deeply affected by climate change and at the forefront of climate diplomacy and the energy transition, is at the crux of these dynamics.
- Europe and the Mediterranean Middle East
This course aims to study the multifaceted and complex relationship between Europe/the European Union and the states of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Starting with the history of European colonialism in the Middle East, the course will examine the post-colonial policies of single European states towards the region, together with the declarations, policies and practices of the European Community, and later European Union, from the 1970s onwards. Suggesting a widely overlooked degree of interconnectedness between Europe and the Middle East, special attention will be paid to Europe-Middle East relations in the realms of trade, migration and border control, security cooperation and democracy promotion. The conceptualisation of the policies of the EU and of single MENA states, together with questions pertaining to power relations, interdependence and leverage in Europe-Middle East relations will also be discussed.
- Global Security: Order Transformation and Resilience
The course focuses on the transformation of the international order, especially in the field of security. Order transformation is one of the most disruptive types of change in international relations, often associated with contestation, conflict, and often war. Despite its significance, order transformation is difficult to detect, as it starts with small changes, whose impact only becomes clear in hindsight. Yet order transformation affects all levels of policy, institutions, and social practices with significant consequences for security, politics, and governance. The course approaches global security from the perspective of the crisis of the liberal international order. It analyses the features of that order and the phases, causes and implications of its unravelling. It examines the characteristics of the current international system as well as how resilient institutions and forms of global and regional governance might be built in this context. We will then analyze specific empirical cases that highlight the two key concepts studied in this course: order transformation and resilience. These include great power rivalry, European and Euro-Atlantic security, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the energy transition. In the final part of the course, we will work on strategies to grapple with order transformation and build resilience. The course encourages the development of students’ analytical tools for the study of the global security environment, combining conceptual and policy lenses. Students will gain both topical insights into the current security environment and a preparedness to approach them with both academic and practice-relevant skills.
