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This annual report provides an overview of our activities and is intended to encourage reading of our publications. Our publications are all freely available online here on our website. If you would like to receive regular updates on CSS publications, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter here www.css.ethz.ch/en/center/css-newsletter.html, or follow us on Twitter (@CSS_Zurich), Facebook (@css.zurich) or LinkedIn.

Strategic Trends 2021 offers a concise analysis of major developments in world affairs, with a focus on international security. It features chapters on China-Russia relations and transatlantic security, Franco-German-British security cooperation after Brexit, Turkey’s power projection in the Middle East and beyond, Europe and major-power shifts in the Middle East, and Japanese and South Korean perspectives on changing power configurations in Asia.

Studies on the mediation of civil wars typically conclude that due to limited resources African mediation efforts are often unsuccessful. In this International Organization article, CSS' Allard Duursma shows that these findings do not hold true when attempts by African actors are systematically compared to those of non-​African ones. In contrast to the existing literature, he shows that African third parties are far more likely to conclude negotiated settlements that are more likely to be durable.

After the forced landing of a passenger jet by Belarus and the arrest of regime opponent Roman Protasevich, international observers are struggling to find an adequate reaction. A series of media contributions by CSS senior researcher Benno Zogg provide orientation.

Disasters know no political and geographical borders. International assistance can therefore play a crucial role in saving lives, livelihoods, and assets in disasters. This new CSS Risk and Resilience Report by Christine Eriksen, Andrin Hauri, Jan Thiel, and Benjamin Scharte provides an independent evaluation of the benefits, costs, opportunities, and risks for Switzerland in becoming a Participating State of the UCPM.

China, the US, and India are competing for political, economic, and military influence in the Indian Ocean. In the future, the strategic order in this institutionally underdeveloped region will become more multipolar and unstable, argues Boas Lieberherr in this CSS Analysis. Maritime security is at risk, with possible repercussions for security of supply in Europe.

While different aspects of identity are increasingly understood to shape diverse experiences of, and agency within conflict, religion and gender are still often treated as separate categories, argues Cora Alder in this CSS Analysis. Intersectional analysis examines gender and religion as overlapping rather than parallel categories, enabling a thorough understanding of conflict dynamics and inclusive peace programming strategies.

The debate around the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is overly politicized. A change in perspective is needed. In the long term, Ukraine as the country most affected could strengthen its position by developing into a green energy producer within the European energy market, argue Jeronim Perović and Maria Shagina in this CSS Policy Perspective.