So far, security economics has played a marginal role in the formulation of the EU’s policy against international terrorism and organised crime. This topic is now the focus of EUSECON, a research project funded by the European Commission in the framework of the Seventh Framework Programme. The IFSH participates in EUSECON as a partner institution within the consortium co-ordinated by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin).
In particular, the IFSH is to focus on the political relevance of economic aspects in the EU’s fight against terrorism and organised crime. The objective of this analysis is to explain, among other things, which role such issues have played so far and how their importance could be raised.
The IFSH, besides the issuing of working papers and other publications, is responsible for ensuring that the knowledge generated by the studies is relevant for the EU policy-making. This project should allow not only to formulate specific answers to the above-mentioned questions, but also to establish a co-operation among consortium partners.
Michael Brzoska is project co-ordinator for the IFSH, whereas Martin Kahl and Regina Heller , Eric van Um and Raphael Bossong participate in the project development.
For more information:
http://www.economics-of-security.eu/eusecon/index.html

MultiPart: Multi-Stakeholder Partnership in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: The Role of the EU

Multi-level and multi-actor co-operation, involving local, national and international, public as well as private actors, has an increasing importance for the governance of complex issues at international level. Multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSP) are ascribed a potential key role in conflict resolution, security management and post-conflict reconstruction. MSP and their support by the EU are therefore to be analysed from a theoretical, conceptual and empirical point of view.
MultiPart investigates whether, how, to what extent and under what conditions multistakeholder partnerships can positively contribute to post-conflict recontruction, and what role the EU should play. The project focuses on the organisational aspects and the specific conditions of creating a MSP to formulate and implement post-conflict policies and programmes. In the first research phase, a theoretical and methodological framework, based on the concepts of human security and governance, will be elaborated to allow a systematic analysis and impact assessment of the phenomenon.
Three outcomes are expected: 1) a contribution to post-conflict operations through the development of an integrative model of MSP which connects conflict management, humanitarian aid and development; 2) a contribution to the operationalisation of the concept of human security; 3) empirical findings as for the evaluation and impact of MSP. The outcomes of the MultiPart project will be published in working papers and illustrated in conferences.
Responsible for the project within the IFSH are Michael Brzoska and Hans-Georg Ehrhart; Jens Narten is also part of the team.
For more information:
http://www.multi-part.eu/