CSS News and Impact

Blackouts, which are large-scale and long-lasting power outages, can significantly impact society. Planning for their consequences requires continuous attention from the state, its citizens, and the private sector. Due to the catastrophic potential of a blackout and the expected extent of its damage, unpreparedness can be extremely costly.

The term “hybrid threat” is ubiquitous in current security policy debates, as it encapsulates an elusive range of different types of attack. This analysis argues that constructively engaging with a hybrid threat scenario initially requires a clear understanding of the underlying forms of hybrid warfare.

The Cyberdefense Project Team from the Center for Security Studies (CSS) was honored with the "Excellence in Cybersecurity Research Award" at the Global Cyber Conference in Zurich.

On November 25, the 2024 Bulletin on Swiss Security Policy was published. It addresses current issues in Swiss foreign and security policy and provides guidance for Switzerland's security policy in the context of a turning point in history.

This report explores the significance of drought hazards for civil protection organizations in Switzerland, both at the local and national levels.

International crises are a stress test for governments, offering opportunities to rally citizens but also risking dissatisfaction with tough policy choices. While trust in government has fluctuated in many European countries during recent times of uncertainty, the Swiss government has benefited from a reservoir of trust providing a buffer against dissatisfaction.

Georgia stands at a crossroads. Once a beacon of democratic reforms in the post-Soviet space, the country has grown increasingly authoritarian under its current government and distanced itself from the West. The parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024 will be a defining moment.

The EU’s embrace of its role as a “geopolitical actor,” and NATO’s renewed focus on deterrence and defense have had a significant impact on their respective approaches to partnerships. Both emphasize their partnerships are tailored, non-legally binding, and mutually beneficial.

Since the “Zeitenwende”, the shape of Switzerland’s neutrality has once again become a controversial subject domestically. The Federal Council has so far seen no need to change course, but will have to brace itself for intense debate in view of the “Neutrality Initiative”. This is also an opportunity to discuss in depth the question of a foreign and security policy that is fit for purpose and that serves Switzerland’s interests. 

A few hours prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia’s military intelligence (GRU) launched a destructive cyberattack against ViaSat’s KA-SAT satellite network, which was used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It prevented them from using satellite communications to respond to the invasion. After the ViaSat hack, numerous cyber operations were conducted against the space sector from both sides of the conflict.