Research

 

At the heart of the CSS research activities are key questions of security and strategic studies. The Center's research work follows a broad, interdisciplinary approach and clusters in six areas.

Risk and Resilience

The CSS analyzes new risks and current threats to state and society. It examines the interplay between threat perceptions and countermeasures with a focus on political mechanisms and processes, and seeks to explain why groups, states, and/or societies focus on certain types of risks, and with what effects.

Security Institutions

The CSS explores why and how security institutions have changed over time. It studies different concepts of world order and examines patterns of cooperation between various security actors, including states, the UN, the EU, and NATO, as well as global and regional security communities.

Strategy and Doctrine

The CSS explores core aspects of the revolution in military affairs and examines the impact of military transformation processes on politics, strategy, and doctrine. It looks at the changing nature of peace operations.

Regional Studies

The CSS investigates the foreign and security policy context of a number of regions, notably Europe, the Middle East, the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Its research focuses on dynamics driving conflicts and cooperation within these contexts, as well as developing theoretical and conceptual approaches for analytically investigating, and comparing, regions.

State Failure and State Building

The CSS looks at the causes and consequences of state failure. It analyzes new strategies of conflict prevention and examines processes of peace- and state-building. The CSS has a special focus on mediation and facilitation processes.

Swiss Foreign, Security, and Defense Policy

The CSS analyzes Swiss foreign, security, and defense policy from both a current and a historical perspective. The Center's special focus is on the doctrinal processes, strategic crisis management, and aspects of human security.