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The IFSH
The Institute for Peace Research
and Security Policy is an independent research institution
at the University of Hamburg. The two terms in the institute's
name highlight the central hypothesis underlying its
work: Ensuring peace and providing security are two
sides of the same coin. They cannot be pursued in isolation
from each other. This is equally true of the situation
- now receding into history - in which Europe knew peace
under nuclear deterrence as it is of the contemporary
situation, in which threats to security emanate from
regional armed conflicts, transnational terrorism, and
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The
work of the institute is thus underpinned by the postulate
of a security policy that is both effective and geared
to the use of peaceful means. The institute's current
research programme, under the banner "Civilizing conflict
- preventing violence and consolidating peace by civilian
means", gives concrete form to this approach. The IFSH's
research profile demonstrates an awareness of political
realities, a focus on problem solving, and an international
mix of staff and project partners.
The IFSH is divided into three specialized research
units. The Centre for European Peace
and Security Studies (ZEUS) focuses on the theoretical
and practical aspects of the European Union's efforts
to strengthen peace and security in the various fields
included within the scope of the Common Foreign and
Security Policy - both within and beyond Europe. The
Centre for OSCE Research (CORE)
is the world's first research institute dedicated to
studying the work of the OSCE in the areas of conflict
regulation, system transformation and democratisation,
especially in south-eastern Europe, the Caucasus and
Central Asia. The Interdisciplinary
Research Group on Disarmament, Arms Control, and Risk
Technologies (IFARª) applies the expertise
the institute has gathered over decadesin the area of
arms-control policy to new security-policy challenges
arising from technology in general and military technology
in particular. The IFSH's three research units combine
to develop cooperative strategies for conflict resolution
and prevention that pay special attention to the courses
of action available to the German government. Additionally, the IFSH comprises a military component/military fellow, which is quite unique for civilian scientific institutions. This military component is appointed by a staff officer of the German Federal Armed Forces whose research projects are integrated into ZEUS and who is an assigned lecturer at the MPS postgraduate program.
There are three main types of activity performed under
the aegis of the IFSH. The principle focus of the institute's
work remains research, but teaching and consulting are
growing in importance. With the launch in autumn 2002
of the international postgraduate degree course "Master
of Peace and Security Studies" - developed by the IFSH
for the University of Hamburg - and the simultaneous
start of a new funding programme for PhD students, the
teaching duties of the institute's staff have increased
significantly. The general aim of the IFSH's teaching
and supervisory activities is to familiarise young scholars
with current developments in peace research and to prepare
graduates from a range of disciplines for careers in
this and related areas.
The IFSH's growing involvement in policy consulting
can largely be traced back to the founding of CORE in
January 2000. The institute provides governments, parliaments,
international organisations and other key political
actors with services based on its academic knowledge,
policy expertise and regional know-how. This demand-driven
area of activity has expanded solidly in recent years.
The various unique projects the IFSH has undertaken
in this area range from creating information packs for
new members of international missions to carrying out
evaluation of field missions and helping to establish
new educational institutions.
The IFSH's work to raise political awareness and disseminate
information can be seen as part of its consulting activities
in the broadest sense. The institute aims to use its
specialist knowledge and problem-solving expertise to
strengthen the ability of politicians, opinion leaders
and the general public to make effective decisions on
questions relating to conflicts, peace, and security
policy. To reach a wider public, the IFSH does not limit
itself to addressing experts in the field, but also
uses the opportunities provided by the mass media and
education systems. The institute publishes the series
of books entitled "Demokratie, Sicherheit, Frieden"
(Democracy, Security, Peace), the quarterly journal
"S+F. Sicherheit und Frieden. Peace and Security", and
two further series of books. It is also the co-publisher
of two yearbooks: the OSCE Yearbook and the Friedensgutachten
(Peace Report).
The IFSH was established as a civil-law foundation in
1971 following a recommendation of the German Science
Council ("Wissenschaftsrat") to promote peace-related
research. The foundation is funded by the Free and Hanseatic
City of Hamburg. The key decision-making offices and
bodies of the IFSH are the Chair of the Foundation,
the Board of Trustees, the Academic Advisory Board and
the Institute Council. The Institute has had five Directors:
Count Wolf von Baudissin (1971-1984), Egon Bahr (1984-1994),
Dieter S. Lutz (1994-2003), Reinhard Mutz (2003-2006),
and the current Director, Michael Brzoska, who was appointed
in February 2006.
Around 50 people are employed at the IFSH.
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