20 Dec 2020 | Publications

The topic of this issue is “Arms Control.” Firstly, Moritz Pieper analyzes the policy options of the Russian government in the area of nuclear arms control, after the end of the INF treaty and before the possible end of New START. Secondly, Liana Fix and Ulrich Kühn discuss the differing conceptions of strategic stability in the 21st century of the USA, Russia, China, and Europe. Thirdly, Alexander Graef writes about conventional arms control in Europe. Finally, Oliver Meier lays out a possible pathway for Russia to dismantle its Novichok program within the framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Dec 2020 | Publications

Artificial Intelligence, Digitalization, Climate Change – many overarching trends and developments have the potential to alter the lives of billions of people in the coming years. For society, most of these trends represent both a challenge and an opportunity. In any case, they will also affect the civil protection system in Switzerland. The objective of this report is therefore twofold. First, it aims to provide a systematic analysis of twelve technological, societal and environmental trends for the next ten years, and second, it makes recommendations on how the civil protection system in Switzerland could be optimized in view of their impact. The analysis thus serves as a supportive foundation for further developing the civil protection system through targeted, coordinated and comprehensible strategic decision-​making. The report is a continuation of the first Risk and Resilience Report on trends in civil protection from 2014, with an extended time horizon to 2030.

Dec 2020 | Publications

The rise of China gives the alliance renewed purpose after years of deadlock. It falls on Europe to invest in the opportunity that the Biden administration offers, argues Henrik Larsen in this CSS Policy Perspective. A new transatlantic bargain is needed, in which Europe invests more in the continent’s own security in return for the US engaging in a transatlantic dialogue about how best to counter China as a threat to resilience and liberal order. The incoming Biden administration offers an opportunity for a joint transatlantic approach to China, provided that Europe safeguards its critical infrastructure for continued intelligence sharing and joint military planning, and also shoulders a bigger burden in containing Russia, as the US shifts its focus to Asia.