Publications

Data-​driven analytics can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of police work and crime prevention. Police departments should however proceed with care, as tools such as predictive policing rais...chevron_right

The discovery of gas in the Eastern Mediterranean has rekindled unresolved issues between Turkey and two EU members, Cyprus and Greece. Steps taken by a more assertive Turkey that fears being cut out ...chevron_right

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.chevron_right

The topic of this issue is “Russian Military Strategy.” In it, the authors challenge Western received wisdom about Russian strategy and aim to stimulate critical thinking. Andrew Monaghan critiques the West’s fixation on Russian hybrid warfare as outdated, while Dima Adamsky argues that Anti Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) is, contrary to Western conventional wisdom, nonexistent in the Russian lexicon. Michael Kofman unpacks these concerns further, questioning the scenarios for a Russian fait accompli in the Baltics envisioned by Western defense planning circles and challenging the claim that a Russian “fait accompli strategy” is even possible. Pavel Sharikov rounds out the issue by suggesting small steps that the US and Russia might take to enhance their cooperation on the nonmilitary use of cyberspace.chevron_right

The topic of this issue is 'Media Capture'. Firstly, Heiko Pleines analyzes the control of business and state actors over mass media in Russia. Secondly, Esther Somfalvy summarizes the chain of events that led to the mass walkout of all leading editorial staff of the business newspaper Vedomosti and highlights the context in which it took place. Finally, Anna Litvinenko posits that the Russian state continues to tolerate social media, as they also provide a number of benefits for the regime, such as citizen feedback, illusion of democracy and a way to vent people’s anger.chevron_right

The initial hopes associated with the spread of the Internet have gradually diminished. Both in democratic and in authoritarian systems, Internet freedom is contested. The need for reform creates poss...chevron_right

By using mercenaries and ostensibly private security services, China and Russia project power and protect their interests abroad without openly deploying their armed forces. However, in doing so, the ...chevron_right

The topic of this issue is “Russia and Belarus.” In it, Margarita M. Balmaceda, Siarhei Bohdan, Fabian Burkhardt, Arkady Moshes, Ryhor Nizhnikau, Oxana Schmies and Joerg Forbrig assess the protests in Belarus after the presidential election from the perspective of Russia’s role in Belarus. An interview with Russian sociologist Lev Gudkov and an opinion poll highlighting Russian attitudes towards Belarus round out the issue.chevron_right

This Cyberdefense Report by Alice Crelier provides a brief overview of Romania's national cybersecurity and cyberdefense policy. It outlines key events that have influenced Romania’s threat perception and lays out the evolution and shifts of its cybersecurity and defense policy. It also provides an overview of the national organizational framework, summarizes key strategy documents, as well as describes its main international and national partnerships.chevron_right

China’s recent foray into multilateral banking brings the country multiple financial and geopolitical benefits. The early years of operations suggest that the potential of the Asian Infrastructure Inv...chevron_right

Climate change plays a crucial role in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires. While the US and Australia have been particularly affected this year, Europe will increasingly face similar challeng...chevron_right

This Risk and Resilience Report by Kevin Kohler, Andrin Hauri, Florian Roth, Tim Prior and Benjamin Scharte discusses the national coordination of reporting under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030 (SFDRR). Looking at six case studies (Austria, France, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland), it finds that there is considerable institutional variety in how the reporting is organized between ministries. Some countries struggle with data availability. Other common critical issues include that data on infrastructure and insurance claims are not shared by the private sector, and that the comparability of data within and between countries is not always given due to different definitions and reporting criteria.chevron_right

As the US recalibrates its Middle Eastern engagements, Russia and China are building up their presence in the region. While not seeking to supplant the US, both powers will need to be increasingly tak...chevron_right

This Cyberdefense Report by Kevin Kohler aims to provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the evolutionary path that Estonia’s national cybersecurity and cyberdefense policy has taken since 1991. To do so, the report outlines the trigger events, the major policy documents, and the current organizational structure. It should be noted that this report is non-​exhaustive and therefore, there are numerous sectoral developments, specialized regulations, and smaller governmental organizations that this study does not specifically touch upon.chevron_right

This Cyberdefense Report by Jasper Frei provides a brief overview of Israel's national cybersecurity and cyberdefense policy. It outlines key events that have influenced Israel’s threat perception and lays out the evolution and shifts of its cybersecurity and defense policy. It also provides an overview of the national organizational framework, summarizes key strategy documents, as well as describes its main international and national partnerships.chevron_right