CSS News and Impact

The rapid development of artificial intelligence is raising security concerns. At the heart of the problem lies the interplay between the rapid pace of innovation and the difficulty of reliably predicting the increasing capabilities of new models. Effective regulations and agreements are likely to be difficult to implement for the time being; the immediate priority is, above all, to strengthen AI security research.

Significant shifts in the strategic environment have caused a profound reorganisation of European security over the past four years. European security cooperation today is characterised by institutional patchwork, diffuse leadership through a changing balance of power, and pragmatism rather than a grand plan. These shifts in institutional scaffolding and leadership will shape the future of European security sustainably and therefore offer an important set of learnings for policymakers.

The CSS courses are a central part of the study programs of the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS) of ETH Zurich and the Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS) of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.

Prof. Dr. Annette Idler was appointed Full Professor of Global Security at ETH Zurich’s Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS) at the beginning of 2026, and at the same time designated as the future Director of the Center for Security Studies (CSS). She will succeed Prof. Dr. Andreas Wenger as Director in 2029, when he retires.

Switzerland’s seagoing fleet faces an uncertain future. Repositioning the Swiss flag by drawing on the considerable potential of the maritime sector in the country could turn it into a useful instrument at the interface between economic and security policy. A shared interest in resilient supply chains can form the basis for a new partnership between the federal government and maritime companies.

Simple conflict stories have an attraction power and circulate easily. By complexifying narratives in peace processes, practitioners and policymakers can find important pathways to shaping sustainable peace.

The attempted attack on Leipzig Airport has once again emphasised the importance of drone defence in the context of hybrid actions. Effective protection of objects depends on technological feasibility, the object's specific vulnerability, the attacker’s objectives, and the legal framework. Investing in sensor technology tends to be more crucial and practicable than focusing on shooting down the drone.

CSS researchers Valerie Sticher, Corinne Bara, and Jenniina Kotajoki, together with researchers from ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Zurich, and international partners, have published a study in Nature, one of the world’s leading scientific journals. The study shows how satellite data can strengthen conflict analysis, helping researchers better assess the consequences of war and mitigate its impact on civilian populations.

From 6 to 9 October 2026, Switzerland will host an EU MODEX exercise for the first time, bringing together actors from the Swiss civil protection system and international response teams. In a realistic scenario, the exercise will test how these teams are assembled, coordinated, and integrated into existing structures following a major earthquake in western Switzerland.

Peacemaking landscapes are increasingly crowded. This guidance note presents an analytical framework to help practitioners and policymakers – from international mediators and donors to national and local peacebuilders – navigate that complexity and build coherence between peace initiatives.