Center for Security Studies

Resources

The purpose of the Resources section of the CSS website is outreach - i.e., it features the analyses of CSS experts, external partners and like-minded institutions in order to promote dialogue on international relations and security-related issues. CSS Resources is the successor to the International Relations and Security Network (ISN).

CSS News

The Role of Mediation Support Structures

Mediation is effective, under certain conditions. Yet the increase in geopolitical polarization and armed conflict raises the question of how mediation can be sustained and improved. Mediation support is one option, albeit not the only one, argue Simon J. A. Mason and Mukondeleli Mpeiwa in this edition of the CSS Analyses in Security Policy Series.

UN Peacekeeping

The 75th anniversary of UN peacekeeping is cause for celebration. Research shows that UN troops can effectively curtail violence in wars between and within states. Yet, peacekeeping has always been shaped by the geopolitical landscape, and the renewed great power competition coupled with antiliberal tendencies worldwide are a formidable challenge for the organization, argues Corinne Bara in this edition of the CSS Analyses in Security Policy Series.

Satellite Imagery for Disaster Resilience

Increasing natural hazards and complex emergencies require optimizations in the Swiss civil protection system. Joining the EU’s Copernicus program could ensure satellite imagery access for disaster risk reduction, helping to save lives, argues Jurgena Kamberaj in this issue of the CSS Policy Perspectives series.

German Military Planning: Aims and Trade-Offs

German security and defense policy faces considerable challenges. The armed forces are confronted with serious recruitment and financial issues, in addition to conflicts between political and military priorities, write Alexander Feltes and Niklas Masuhr in this edition of the CSS Analyses in Security Policy series.

Managing Disaster Costs

The increasing frequency and magnitude of climate-exacerbated hazards, coupled with the growing vulnerability of societies worldwide, are raising the financial costs of disasters. Governments finance a larger share of these costs through post-disaster measures. However, reducing risk and optimizing the allocation of pre-disaster resources can reduce the negative financial impacts on governments, writes Simon Aebi in this edition of the CSS Analyses in Security Policy series.

Featured Publications

May 2023 | Publications

Russian Analytical Digest No. 294: Whither Russia?

In this issue of the RAD eight Russia scholars with different backgrounds provide shorter comments on key areas of Russia’s future development. Taken together, the contributions cover Russia’s political regime, society and public opinion as well as the impact of sanctions and Russia’s role in international politics. Several contributions highlight the huge uncertainty involved in any assessments of Russia’s future. Accordingly, the authors do not make predictions but outline possible trends.

Feb 2023 | Publications

Russian Analytical Digest No 292: The Value of Public Opinion Polls

This issue focuses on the methodological challenges of wartime polling. Denis Volkov engages with criticisms of Levada surveys. Bryn Rosenfeld answers four questions about wartime surveys. Jeremy Morris challenges the very existence of public opinion. Heiko Pleines introduces Discuss Data’s collection of open-​access raw opinion data. Anna Biriukova discusses wartime polling by Aleksei Navalny’s Anti-​Corruption Foundation. Elena Koneva and Alexander Chilingaryan highlight how the sociology of war is crucial for policymakers. Aleksei Minialo reflects on activist polling. Finally, Emil Kamalov, Ivetta Sergeeva, Margarita Zavadskaya, and Veronica Kostenko discuss their original panel survey data of the most recent wave of emigration.

Jan 2023 | Publications

No 131, Caucasus Analytical Digest: Informality and Informal Practices in the Time of COVID-19: The Case of Georgia

The topic of this issue is Informality and Informal Practices in the Time of COVID-​19: The Case of Georgia. Firstly, Irakli Korkia addresses corruption by analyzing 1) simplified state procurement procedures related to the healthcare sector and quarantine zones and 2) the vaccine deployment process; secondly, Rhiannon Segar discusses how informal forms of social capital have impacted the dissemination of information during the pandemic in the Georgian-​Armenian and Georgian-​Azerbaijani ethnic minority communities; thirdly, Tamar Tolordava underlines the importance of institutions (formal and informal) to help citizens learn about and internalize the new rules and restrictions important to defeating the pandemic.

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