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News
05 Oktober 2011
Participation in the IGCC “Public Policy and Nuclear Threats” Program
Katarzyna Kubiak took part on the “Public Policy and Nuclear Threats” workshop. Katarzyna presented her research on “CTBT Entry into Force Taken Hostage by Regional Conflicts.” during a panel on August, 16. The event has been organised by the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation in San Diego and took place July 31- August 19, 2011. The workshop is designed to address important issues in U.S. nuclear strategy and policy, supported by an understanding of the scientific foundations of this policy. The program aims to give participants the knowledge and analytic tools to contribute to the debate on future U.S. nuclear policy.
05 Oktober 2011
EU Security Governance in the Post-National Constellation. International Workshop at IFSH
From 29-30 September the Centre for European Peace and Security Studies of the IFSH with financial support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation organized an international workshop on “EU Security Governance in the Post-National Constellation: Conceptual, Empirical and Practical Challenges”. The event brought together 25 scholars and experts from universities, think-tanks, and EU institutions to discuss conceptual perspectives, empirical developments and practical-normative problems of EU security governance. In a first step, two conceptual panels dealt with the state of the scholarly debate on the concept of security governance and potential trade-offs of post-national security policy as well as with specific manifestations of security governance in the EU and in comparison to other regions. The next three panels scrutinized concrete characteristics and problems of EU security governance in counterterrorism, the comprehensive approach in CSDP operations, and member states’ implementation of the whole-of-government approach. The concluding roundtable debated the conceptual and practical relevance and appropriateness of EU security governance on the basis of the foregoing discussions.
Workshop Programme
26 September 2011
Presentation on nuclear arms control perspectives
On September 21, Oliver Meier gave a presentation on "Nuclear arms
control perspectives after New START" on the fifth symposium on nuclear and radiological weapons at the Fraunhofer Institute for Technological Trend Analysis in Euskirchen. The biannual conference brings together German decision-makers and experts on issues of nuclear security.
17 September 2011
"The subjective dimension of Russia’s partnership with the West."International workshop with researchers from Russia, the U.S. and the EU at IFSH
Russia continues to be an important partner for the West: the country is an essential pillar of the European political and security architecture, a key international player and is also of growing importance as an economic partner. For the West, it is crucial to understand Russia’s interests and motivations as an actor in this relationship as well as Russian behavior as a respondent to demands, interests and actions from the West. Such an understanding is, however, often lacking, particularly because the micro-foundations of Russian foreign policy behavior are not always clear.
Together with its partners from the University of Frankfurt and Tampere University (Finland) IFSH conducted a workshop entitled „The subjective dimension of Russia’s partnership with the West. Filling theoretical and empirical voids“. The two-day workshop (15 and 16 September 2011) brought together 20 researchers from Russia, the EU and the U.S. and from different disciplines (political science, sociology, history, psychology) in order to discuss the micro-foundations of Russian foreign policy and its repercussions on the dynamic and quality on the Russian-Western partnership. Because what looks like contradictory, ambivalent, costly and sometimes even risky political behavior in the relations with the West, can in many instances be understood as a consequence of a subjective rationality. Such a subjective rationality can analytically be captured with psychologically inspired research approaches.
Since a coherent or single theoretical or analytical framework does not yet exist, it has been the aim of the workshop to identify the empirical and theoretical voids in key assumptions of the established approaches, to fill these voids by offering alternative concepts and to develop more tailored explanations, particularly with the help of psychological thinking. Issues discussed throughout the workshop included the role of emotions, social identity, status, respect claims and perceptions in Russian foreign policy, as well as the influence of collective memories and the function of “history politics”. In the final roundtable, such well-respected researchers like the Russia expert Richard Sakwa (UK), Finnish political advisor Hiski Haukkala, and the Political Psychologists Mark Urnov (Russia) assessed the importance of subjectivity for analyzing Russian Foreign policy. Finally, Deborah Welch Larson (U.S.) commented on the value of the papers and presentations for developing further a political psychology of international relations.
8 September 2011
Press conference Ten Years after 9/11
On 7 September 2011 Daniela Pisoiu held a press conference in Berlin at the Verein der Ausländischen Presse in Deutschland (Association of the Foreign Press Correspondents in Germany) on the occasion of the 9/11 ten year anniversary. The topics of interest were operational details, security and political implications of the 9/11 attacks, the current terrorism risk assessment and radicalisation processes in Germany, and counter-terrorism policies.
25 July 2011
Project on reduction of tactical nuclear weapons renewed
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has renewed a grant for a project on the reduction of the role of tactical nuclear weapons in European security. Over the next 12 months, project partners IFSH, the Arms Control Association and the British American Security Information Council will organize seminars and roundtables in several European capitals on nuclear arms control and the future of nuclear deterrence. Goals of the project include the promotion of discussions within NATO on the reduction of the role of tactical nuclear weapons in the Alliance's defense policy and an analysis of options for including tactical nuclear weapons in future arms control agreements. More information on the project can be found at
http://tacticalnuclearweapons.ifsh.de
18 July 2011
IFSH News Mai - June 2011 is published
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29 June 2011
Workshop on “Arms Race in Cyberspace?”
On June 24, the Research Association for Science, Disarmament and International Security (FONAS) and the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH) organized a national workshop on “Arms Race in Cyberspace?” About 40 scientists, government officials and practitioners dealt with questions such as ‘what is cyberwar?’ and ‘which limitating measures are available?’. The experts analyzed the current situation regarding possible threats and alternatives of response from a German perspective. Talks were held by five speakers, amongst others from the MFA and MoD. The event was part of the IFSH research project „Perspectives on Cyber War: Legal Frameworks and Transparency and Confidence Building“, which will also involve an international workshop towards the end of this year in cooperation with UNIDIR, discussing confidence building measures.
23 June 2011
Preparing for the2012 Irish OSCE chairmanship
CORE conducted its fourth OSCE-related training course in Dublin in May 2011. The course was designed to prepare officials of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for the forthcoming Irish OSCE Chairmanship in 2012. The previous three training courses had been conducted for groups of diplomats from Kazakhstan and Lithuania – the OSCE Chairmanships-in-Office 2010 and 2011 respectively. The general intention of these training courses is to broaden the respective country’s MFA personnel pool qualified to deal with political and managerial issues of the OSCE.
This year’s training course in May 2011 addressed diplomats of the OSCE Taskforce at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Dublin, headed by Ambassador Frank Cogan, as well as representatives of the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the OSCE in Vienna. A permanent video link to Irish governmental representatives in Vienna and Brussels enlarged the geographic span of the group of trainees directly involved in the course. The training course was conducted by CORE staff along with senior staff members of the OSCE Secretariat and ODIHR. CORE is grateful to the OSCE Secretary General, Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, and to the Director of the ODIHR, Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, for providing active personnel support to help make the course successful.
23 June 2011
Workshp "Developing OSCE Field Activities"
To contribute to discussions on direct activities of the OSCE in its participating States, the Centre for OSCE Research (CORE) and the German Federal Foreign Office jointly organized a workshop on "Developing OSCE Field Activities" at Vienna Hofburg, 26 and 27 May 2011.
The aim of the workshop was both to signal the special interest of Germany in these formats for international security cooperation, as well as to address specific issues such as the thematic orientations of OSCE field activities, the respective expectations of the host governments affected and matters of internal interaction within the OSCE.
The workshop was attended by approximately 60 participants and guests. Representatives of governments, OSCE field operations and academic institutions from a total of seven participating States (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and Tajikistan) were invited to the event. They talked about their views on conceptual and organizational issues of OSCE field work with representatives of the current Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship and the two other members of the 2011 OSCE Troika (Kazakhstan and Ireland), with experts from the OSCE, the European Union and the Council of Europe.
For about two decades, the direct involvement of the OSCE in its participating States has played an important role in the European security dialogue. During the well-publicized OSCE reform discussions in 2005 and as part of the so-called Corfu Process – an OSCE dialogue format in 2009 and 2010 – this was the subject of a sometimes energetic dispute. Just recently, the leaders of the 56 OSCE participating States emphasized the importance of the OSCE field missions at the OSCE Summit in Astana in December 2010.
23 June 2011
Presentation on German and French Security Policy
On June 20, 2011 Sybille Reinke de Buitrago presented a paper on the current security policy of Germany and France, focusing especially on the diverging elements in the conceptions of security of both countries. The presentation was part of the 7th Le Rencontre Franco-Allemande d’Histoire Militaire, organized by the German Historical Institute in Paris, Militärgeschichtliche Forschungsamt and Institut de recherche stratégique de l'ecole militaire in France.
18. June 2011
CORE News Spring-Summer 2011 published
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20 June 2011
Seminar on dual-use technology transfers
On June 16-17, IFSH organized an international conference at the representation of the city of Hamburg in Berlin, titled “Between Control and Cooperation: Dual-use, technology transfers and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.” Thirty academic experts and practitioners discussed how to improve controls on proliferation-sensitive dual-use technologies without unduly hampering their peaceful application. The workshop, which was also supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, was part of a research project funded by the German Foundation for Peace Research on dual-use technology controls.
09. June 2011
IFAR Working Paper 17 published
Christian Alwardt, Wasser als globale Herausforderung. Die Ressource Wasser.
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09. June 2011
IFAR Working Paper 16 published
Katarzyna Kubiak, CTBT HOLD-OUT STATES - Why did „the longest sought, hardest fought prize in arms control history” still not enter into force?
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09 June 2011
Conference “An efficient security political instrument? The strategic partnerships EU-USA and EU-Russia”
The second trilateral dialogue of diplomats took place in Genshagen Castle near Berlin on 6 and 7 June 2011. Organized by the Foundation Genshagen the meeting brings together diplomats from the Weimar Triangle (Germany, France, Poland) and experts from think tanks to discuss foreign and security political questions in an informal and small circle. The heading of the event was “An efficient security political instrument? The strategic partnerships EU-USA and EU-Russia”. Dr. Hans-Georg Ehrhart (head ZEUS at the IFSH) chaired the second panel on “General perspectives and concrete fields of application of the strategic partnership EU-NATO”. The presentation of Dominique David (director IFRI, Paris) was commentated by Peer Horstmann (CSDP department, Auswärtiges Amt) and General Stefan Czmur (department on security policy, Polish foreign ministry).
06 June 2011
PiraT is BMBF-project of the month in June, 2011
Link
01 June 2011
Russian Politics and Foreign Policy Driven by What? Emotions versus Interests
On 25 May 2011, Regina Heller participated in a workshop in Helsinki entitled "Russian Policy and Foreign Policy Driven by
What? Emotions versus Interests", The workshop was organized by the Aleksanderi-Institute of the Helsinki University. Together with a number of experts from Europe and the US, Regina Heller presentetd her concepts and approaches to the analysis of subjective factors and emotions. The panelists discussed their views on the interaction between interests and emotions in Russian (Foreign) policy with other scientists and policy-makers from the Finnish government.
30 May 2011
Conference on NATO’s nuclear posture
IFSH was a co-sponsor of a two-day seminar on “Revising NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture: prospects for change“ which took place on May 22-23 in Brussels. The conference was also sponsored by the Arms Control Association, the British American Security Information Council and the International Security Information Service Europe and part of a joint project on the reduction of the role of tactical nuclear weapons in European security, sponsored by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. More than 50 participants, among them many diplomats, NATO officials and non-governmental experts debated how NATO can strengthen European security and advance nuclear disarmament in the context of its Deterrence and Defense Posture Review. Götz Neuneck gave a presentation on “Shifting from deterrence by punishment to deterrence by denial? The case of Ballistic Missile Defense in Europe”, Oliver Meier spoke on “The debate on NATO’s nuclear posture today”. Meier also moderated a panel during a seminar on “NATO’s Strategic Deterrent Review and the Future of NATO’s Nuclear Policy”, organized by Carnegie Europe on May 25 in Brussels.
02 May 2011
New Publication
Isabelle Maras, together with her colleague Laura Salich from the Peacebuilding Research Group on the Great Lakes Region GRAPAX, recently published an Op-ed entitled "Ten Years After UN Resolution 1325, A Neat Revolution in Search of Warriors" on the Atlantic Community's website.
This article was submitted in the framework of the recent Atlantic Community's competition entitled "Empowering Women in International Relations", organised on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UN resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
13 April 2011
„Power in conflicts – power of conflicts“ - ZEUS presents research projects at the Annual Conference of the German Standing Group on Peace and Conflict Research (AFK)
The Centre for European Peace and Security Studies (ZEUS) presented a number of its re-search projects at the Annual Conference of the German Standing Group on Peace and Con-flict Research (AFK), 8-9 April 2001. The conference took place in Villigst, Germany and was entitled “Power in conflicts – Power of conflicts”. The various ZEUS contributions mainly concentrated on the emergence and consequences of transnational risks of violence such as terrorism and piracy.
The panel „Analysing the power of meaning and interpretation“ dealt with terrorism and counter-terrorism along with the question of how ideas, transported through language, change social interaction in this issue area. The panel started with a presentation by Regina Heller. She explained how justification arguments put forward by state actors have been conceptualized in IR research, arguing for a greater focus on the role of state actors in norm erosion processes. Matenia Sirseloudi elaborated on the question of how Jihadists try to gain interpretative authority over narratives. Sybille Reinke de Buitrago highlighted the role of figurative language and images expressed through language and their influence on German and US-American security policy. Finally, Raphael Bossong’s presentation concentrated on the ques-tion to what extent already obtained interpretative authority shapes the implementation of Eu-ropean counter-terrorism policy.
Kerstin Petretto and Patricia Schneider organised a panel on „Maritime conflicts – piracy re-search in Germany“, conjointly with the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF). It aimed at bringing together researchers from Germany working on that issue. While for a long time, the subject had gained only little attention, more recently a number of German research institutes took up the problem of maritime power and conflict in their research portfolio, among them the IFSH with the „PiraT“ project, INEF in the framework of its „Piracy-Studies“, HSFK with its „Global Crime Governance“ project as well as the Max Planck Insti-tute for Foreign and Public Criminal Law within the project „Combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden“. The panel was chaired by Volker Matthies.
Contact: Regina Heller
24 March 2011
Annual Convention of the International Studies Association in Montreal
From February 16 to 19, nine IFSH staff members attended the Annual Convention of the International Studies Association (ISA) in Montreal. With several thousand participants, the ISA is the world’s largest conference in the field of international relations. This year the IFSH organized three panels: Martin Kahl und Daniela Pisoiu on ‘Subjecting Freedom. Counterterrorism vs. Human Rights’, Kerstin Petretto und Patricia Schneider on ‘Governance Offshore. Ever Thought about It?’, and Hendrik Hegemann together with Peter Romaniuk from the City University of New York on ‘Theorizing Counterterrorism Cooperation. International Institutions, International Relations Theory, and the Fight against Terrorism’. Michael Brzoska, Isabelle Maras, Shafiah Muhibat, and Johann Schmid as well attended the conference. Overall, IFSH staff members presented six papers:
Michael Brzoska: The Role of Effectiveness and Efficiency in the European Union's Counterterrorism Policy. The Case of Terrorist Financing
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Hendrik Hegemann: Governing the Fight against Terrorism. Comprehensive Counterterrorism Cooperation and the Contested Agency of International Organizations
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Isabelle Maras: Promoting Interests over Values? The Case of the CSDP-Supported Police Reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Shafiah Muhibat: Norm Dynamics in Regional Cooperation
Daniela Pisoiu: More Security for Less Liberty? Arguing for Counterterrorism Measures. A Comparative Study
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Patricia Schneider: Maritime Terrorism – Laughable or Dangerous? The Challenge of Evaluating Maritime Terrorism. Attacks, Scenarios and Defensive Measures
ISA 2011 Paper Archive
15. March 2010
IFSH News January - February published
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08 March 2011
Oliver Meier participates in EASI as nuclear weapons expert
On March 3, Oliver Meier participated as an expert in the non-strategic nuclear weapons expert group under the Euro-Atlantic Security Initiative (EASI) in Washington, DC. EASI is a new, high-level international commission whose unique goal is to lay the intellectual foundation for an inclusive Euro-Atlantic security system for the twenty-first century. It is co-chaired by Wolfgang Ischinger, Igor Ivanov, and Sam Nunn. The non-strategic nuclear weapons working group plans to finalise a paper outlining options to reduce these short-range nuclear weapons during a second meeting in April in Brussels.
03 March 2011
Call for applications
the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) launches the call for applications for the European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) 2011/2012 organised by the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC). Candidates for admission will find HERE all useful information to apply. The deadline for application is 20 March 2011.
22 February 2011
Andrei Zagorski presents new IFSH study
Andrei Zagorski presented a new IFSH study "Russia’s Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Posture, Politics and Arms Control" at an February 21 seminar at the representation of Hamburg in Berlin. At the same event, IFAR director Götz Neuneck also presented the results of a study on missile defense in Europe. More than 30 participants from the government, Bundestag, embassies, research institutes and the media discussed with the two authors options to advance arms control in Europe.
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20 February 2011
Options for Japanese-German cooperation on nuclear disarmament
On February 17, Oliver Meier discussed with Ambassador Nobuyasu Abe, Director of the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation at the Japan Institute of International Affairs options to improve Japanese-German cooperation on nuclear arms control and nonproliferation. The event took place at the embassy of Japan in Berlin and had been co-sponsored by the German Council on Foreign Relations.
07 February 2011
Workshop on EU Security Governance
The University of Hamburg and the IFSH organized a public workshop on EU Security Governance on 4 February 2011. Hannes Hansen-Magnusson (Hamburg University) chaired the first panel that dealt with two papers: „European Union Foreign Policy Practices: Enacting Normative Meaning-in-Use Internationally“ by Antje Wiener (Hamburg University) and Uwe Puetter (Central European University) and “Normalizing Difference? Exploring the Civil-Military Interface within CSDP“ by Maren Hofius (Hamburg University). Shazia Aziz-Wülbers (Hamburg University) commented. The second panel chaired by Torsten Geise (GIGA) dealt with three papers. First Regina Heller and Martin Kahl (both IFSH) presented „EU External Security Governance – Non-hierarchical and Effective?“. Then Hendrik Hegemann (IFSH) talked on the topic „Between Great Transformation and Politics as Usual: Mapping Formal and Informal Security Governance in Post 9/11-EU Counterterrorism Cooperation” and Isabelle Maras (IFSH) on „Governing EU-Police Reform: The Case of the Democratic Republic of Congo”. The workshop closed with a stock-taking panel discussion. Under the chairmanship of Antje Wiener (Hamburg University ) Michael Brzoska (IFSH), Hans-Georg Ehrhart (IFSH) and Uwe Puetter (CEU) held a debate on the developments in Egypt and the role of the EU.
01. February 2011
Pilot Project on the Afghanistan Policies of the Central Asian States
The pilot project on the Afghanistan Policies of the Central Asian States has received financial support from the Deutsche Stiftung Friedensforschung. This project aims to address the seriously under-researched question of which policies the five Central Asian (CA) states have pursued on Afghanistan. This kind of research is essential for formulating a strategy for the stabilization of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of coalition forces. Deeper knowledge of the Afghanistan policies of the CA states is
also vital for a better understanding of the dynamics of the conflict
potentials in Afghanistan and Central Asia, which have so far remained separate. As a part of the pilot project, a field trip to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan is planned for March 2011. More information here.
31. January 2011
International Working Group Meeting - “Oceans Beyond Piracy”
On 14th of January, at Chatham House, London, the US based One Earth Future Foundation hosted a diverse working group of maritime experts in London as part of its Oceans Beyond Piracy project to determine how to better coordinate and focus international counter-piracy measures. Participants were representatives of international and nongovernmental organizations, maritime industry and the scientific community. Kerstin Petretto participated as research fellow of the IFSH lead project network “PiraT - Piracy and Maritime Terrorism as a Challenge for Maritime Trade Security”. Please find further information in the press release.
20. December 2010
Public panel on “The Future of German Peace Policy”
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation organized a public panel on 16 December 2010 on the topic “The Future of German Peace Policy”. Panelists were Edelgart Bulmahn (MP, former minister for education and science), Angelika Spelten (INEF/FRIENT) and Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart (IFSH/ZEUS). The Discussion was chaired by Andreas Zumach (Journalist).
22. December 2010
IFSH News November - December published
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20. December 2010
Workshop of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) held a workshop on „New Challenges for German Security Policy: in Search for a Comprehensive Reform“ on 16 December 2010 in Berlin. Starting point of the conference was a policy paper of the FEF Study Group International Security Policy. The first panel dealt with international perspectives. The panel was comprised of Peter Struck (former minister of defence and Director of the FES), Alexander Weis (European Defence Agency), Egon Ramms (General ret.), Christos Katsiolis (FES)). The second panel dealt with national the perspective. Hans-Ulrich Klose (MP, Member of the Commission on the Future Structures of the German Armed Forces), Rainer Arnold (MP, Defence Spokesman of the SPD-Faction) and Dr. Hans-Georg Ehrhart (IFSH/ZEUS). The debate was chaired by Walter Kolbow (MP, former secretary of state, DoD).
12. December 2010
New Publication
Martin Kahl (Ed.), The Transnationalisation of Risks if Violence, (Demokratie, Sicherheit, Frieden Band 202) Baden-Baden 2011.
10. December 2010
A group of journalists from Kazakhstan visited CORE on 19 November 2010 to learn more about CORE’s capacity building activities. The journalist’s visit to Hamburg, was part of an information-gathering trip on “rule of law and media in Germany” funded by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and organized by Sebastian Schiek, PhD student at CORE. Among the participants was Dr Dossym Satpaev, a political scientist who regularly writes for the Kazakhstani newspapers “Svobodo Slova” and “Liter”, Eduard Poletaev, chief editor of the newspaper “Izvestia Kazakhstan”, Botagos Sejdakhmetova, the political correspondent of the newspaper “Novoe Pokolenie” and Andrej Cherbotaev, a member of staff of the Kazakhstani Office of Human Rights (richtiger Titel?). Dr Wolfgang Zellner and Dr Anna Kreikemeyer gave an introduction on CORE and the capacity building activites in Central Asia, which was followed by a lengthy and lively discussion on rule of law in Central Asia, the Kazakhstani OSCE Chairmanship and the future of the OSCE. Presentations and discussions were concluded by a joint lunch.
08. December 2010
Joint conference of the IFSH and the Evangelic Academy of Loccum on the Comprehensive Approach
From 3 to 5 December 2010 the IFSH and the Evangelical Academy of Loccum held an international conference entitled “Development with steel helmet? Comprehensive civil and military planning for peace and stability in crisis areas”. Fifty participants discussed problems and perspectives of the comprehensive approach in six panels. Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart (Head of Center for European Peace and Security Studies at the IFSH) and Markus Gauster (Austrian Defence Academy, Vienna) introduced in the topic with two presentations on the comprehensive approach. In the second panel Colonel Meyer zum Felde (German Militay Academy) dealt with the German approach while Timo Christians (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe) highlighted problematic aspects from a civil society perspective. In the third panel Dr Finn Stepputat (Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen) and Daniel Korski (European Council on Foreign Relations, London) gave talks on the Danish and British approaches. Colonel ret. Roland Kaester (Institute for Strategic Prospective Analysis) and Friedrich Däuble (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) gave assessments of the activities of the Department of Civilian Conflict Prevention (Ressortkreis Zivile Krisenprävention). Then Ute Finckh-Kramer (Bund für soziale Verteidigung) gave a critical analysis of the approach of civil-military interaction. The last panel consisted of a panel discussion. Dr Jochen Hippler (INEF), Jürgen Lieser (VENRO), MP Joachim Spatz (Sub-committee Civil Crisis Prevention and Comprehensive Security) and Dr Hans-Georg Ehrart (IFSH) acted as panelists. The conference was moderated by Dr Markus Schaper (Evangelical Academy of Loccum).
25. November 2010
Security Development Nexus
On 23 November 2010 Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart gave a presentation to the course for inter-cultural advisers at the Bundeswehr Centre for Operational Information. The topic under discussion was “The ‘Security Developemt Nexus’: Concepts and Challenges”.
09. November 2010
Hearing on the new NATO strategic concept
On October 10, Michael Brzoska testified on the new NATO strategic concept at a joint hearing of the Committee on Defence and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag.
Written transcript:Download
Internet video: Link
25. October 2010
Quo vadis NATO?
On October 22, Oliver Meier participated as a panelist in the
conference "Quo vadis NATO? Cold War relic or instrument of peace",
which was organized by the Green party in the German Bundestag. He
discussed with former NATO commander General Egon Ramms and member of
Parliament Frithjof Schmidt the "Future role of NATO - collective
security and disarmament". NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen delivered the keynote address to the conference, which was attended by more than 400 participants.
19. October 2010
Commentary to the OSCE's Review Conference
Ulrich Kühn has wirtten a commentary for the OSCE's Review Conference: Commentary to the OSCE's Review Conference, Vienna, 18-26 October 2010.
View Commentary
08. October 2010
Workshop on nuclear deterrence in Ankara
IFSH was a co-sponsor of a workshop on NATO’s deterrence posture and Turkish security, held in Ankara on October 4. The roundtable was part of the project on reducing the role of tactical nuclear weapons in European security sponsored by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Diplomats, decision-makers and experts from Turkey and other NATO member states discussed the role of deterrence in South-East Europe as well as NATO’s future deterrence posture against the background of debates around the Alliance’s new Strategic Concept. These issues were also at the centre of discussions of several workshop participants in the Turkish Parliament as well as in the Turkish defence and foreign ministries on October 5. The following day, a delegation of participants headed for Brussels to take part in a roundtable sponsored by the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation on the impact of NATO nuclear posture on European security and for meetings at NATO headquarters to discuss the new Strategic Concept.
28. September 2010
IFSH News August - September published
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14. September 2010
SGIR Pan-European Conference in Stockholm
From 9 - 11 September the Standing Group on International Relations (SGIR) within the European Consortium for Political Research held its 7th Pan-European Conference in Stockholm. The SGIR is the biggest European conference in the field of international relations and convened more than 1000 international scholars. Michael Brzoska, Hendrik Hegemann, Regina Heller, Sybille Reinke de Buitrago, and Denise Völker represented the IFSH in Stockholm. Their papers were entitled: “Climate Change as Driver of Security Policy” (Michael Brzoska), “Great Transformation or Politics as Usual? The Many Faces of Security Governance in Post-9/11 EU Counterterrorism” (Hendrik Hegemann), “Unveiling the Unconscious. New Approaches to the Explanation of Russian Foreign Policy” (Regina Heller), “Regional Security and Global Norms in South America and Southeast Asia. A Cross-Regional Perspective on Processes of Interaction” as well as “China as a Threat in American, German and Japanese Globalization Discourses. Conceptualizing Othering” (Sybille Reinke de Buitrago), and “Forest Protection vs. Agricultural Expansion. Climate Change Mitigation. A Factor Fostering Land Use Conflict in the Amazon Region?” (Denise Völker). Furthermore, Michael Brzoska functioned as a discussant for the panel “Resources, the Environment, and Conflict” and Regina Heller chaired a panel on “Recognition and Identity in FP”.
13. August 2010
Workshop on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
The IFSH and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) held a workshop dealing with the topic of “Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships” in Berlin on 12 August 2010. Prof. Michael Brzoska (Director IFSH), Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart (Head ZEUS/IFSH) and Dr Jens Narten (former IFSH rearcher, now GTZ) gave a presentation of the results of the EU sponsored international research project „Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Post-Conflict Countries. The Role of he EU“. In this project the IFSH was leader of working package 4a on security. During the workshop representatives of the BMZ - partially per video conference with the Bonn part of the ministry - , the KfW and the GTZ discussed questions, problems and opportunities of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in post-conflict settings in general and in the three case studies on Afghanistan, Democratic Republic if Congo and Kosovo in particular.
More information on Multipart here.
23. July 2010
Kick-Off-Workshop of the Project PiraT at the IFSH
The joint research project PiraT, which addresses the topic of piracy and maritime terrorism as a challenge for maritime trade security, is the biggest project so far at the IFSH. On July 6th, the cooperation between the project-partners IFSH, DIW, BLS, TUHH and ISZA was launched through a kick-off-workshop. It addressed administrative questions, answered by the project-executing organization VDI TZ, as well as questions regarding substantial aspects of the project thus paving the way for a smooth continuation of the project in the months to come. The participants especially devoted their attention to the draft paper written beforehand by the IFSH which was represented by Hans-Georg Ehrhart, Patricia Schneider and Kerstin Petretto on this occasion. By focusing on the concept of “security governance” and its application to maritime security, the paper provided a basis for discussion between the participants who analyzed the concept from their discipline’s perspective. Overall, the kick-off-workshop allowed the partners to explore the possibilities of cooperation and to specify the future course of the project. For more information on PiraT, please visit www.maritimesecurity.eu.
21. July 2010
Network UNESCO – Ecole de la Paix « Governance & Peace », Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
On 21 May 2010, Isabelle Maras was invited to give a lecture at the IEDES (Institut du Développement Economique et Social), Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, on the European Union crisis management as part of the lecture series « Governance and Peace » organised by the network UNESCO – École de la Paix in cooperation with the Bernheim Pole for Peace and Citizenship Studies (Université Libre de Bruxelles). The participants were students from the Masters Degree « Crises: interventions d’urgence et actions de développement » » at the IEDES, wishing to dedicate themselves to humanitarian intervention or development-related activities. Isabelle Maras dedicated her lecture to the civilian missions of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). A topical discussion on the current developments and challenges of the EU external policy and external intervention in the field of development followed.
21. July 2010
Research stay in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic Congo, June 2010
Last June, Isabelle Maras, a doctoral student from the IFSH, conducted a three-week field research in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the framework of her research project on the effectiveness of CSDP police missions, Isabelle Maras conducted a round of interviews with experts and policemen from the EU police mission EUPOL RD Congo, representatives and civil servants of police authorities and Ministries, as well as with representatives of international organisations (MONUC among other ones). She also conducted intensive talks with a wide range of Congolese civil society practitioners and representatives. The current political context in the DRC – with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the independance (which took place on 30 June) and the upcoming presidential elections next year – made the field research particularly interesting and instructive.
21. July 2010
Annual Report 2009
The Annual Report 2009 is now available.
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16. July 2010
Roundtable on credible deterrence
The problem of NATO providing credible deterrence in the 21st century and options to reduce the role of tactical nuclear weapons were at the center of a two-day seminar that took place in Warsaw on July 5-6 and brought together experts and decision-makers primarily from Central and Eastern Europe. The event was hosted by the Polish Institute of International Affairs and had been co-organized by IFSH, the Arms Control Association and the British American Security Information Council as part of a project funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation on reducing the role of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. Oliver Meier gave a presentation on “Reducing the role of nuclear weapons in Alliance doctrine: Options for a new consensus.”
2. July 2010
Research project on piracy and maritime terrorism starts
The joint research project “PiraT – Piracy and Maritime Terrorism as a Challenge for Maritime Trade Security” was launched. The project partners are very glad to contribute to the program for civil security. Research involves five most renowned scientific institutes and six associated partners with particular knowledge in practical issues. The Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) granted just under one million Euros for the project group. Please see our press release for details. In case of interest we inform you on a regular basis on the state of affairs. We recommend our newsletter (subscription under: a ref="http://www.maritimesecurity.eu" target="blank" class="linkru">Link).
1. July 2010
Ulrich Kühn at the 14th OSCE Summer Academy in Stadtschlaining
On 23 June, 2010 Ulrich Kühn was invited to give two lectures, dedicated to the politico-military dimension of the OSCE, at the 14th OSCE Summer Academy in Stadtschlaining. The annual OSCE Summer Academy is being organized by the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR) together with the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna under the auspices of the OSCE. In his two lectures Ulrich Kühn focused on the topics of arms control, CSBMs, conflict prevention and crisis management, border management, and combatting trafficking in human beings. The 20 participants were either citizens of OSCE Participating States or OSCE Partner States.
25. Juni 2010
Global Media Forums in Bonn
Michael Brzoska participated in the Global Media Forum in Bonn on June 22 in a workshop on climate change and conflicts, organized by the PECOJON network of journalists. The empirical case discussed was that of the Philippines.
Some pictures are at: Link
EAnd the audiofile of the discussion can be downloaded here: Link
21. June 2010
Peace by intervention?
A conference on „Peace by intervention? Ethical aspects in international relations” took place in the Academy Franz Hitze Haus in Münster from 18 to 20 June 2010. The conference was organized by the Institute for Political Science of the University of Münster, the University of Hagen and the University of Siegen. The IFSH was represented by Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart, who gave a presentation on “The Afghanistan conflict: Strategies and options of the international community”.
18. June 2010
EU NATO
Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart gave a presentation at the Bundeswehr’s Military Academy on 17 June 2010. Addressing the general staff course for NATO and non-NATO member countries he talked on the topic “EU NATO: A difficult relationship”.
11. June 2010
IFSH News April - May published
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08. June 2010
International Workshop „Europe and Central Asia, Partners in Global Governance” in Barcelona
From 3-4 June 2010, Elena Kulipanova participated in the Workshop “Europe and Central Asia, Partners in Global Governance” in Barcelona. The workshop was organized by the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), Real Instituto Elcano und Casa Asia under support of the European Commission and the Spanish EU Presidency. Experts from Central Asia and Europe gathered to discuss selected issues during the three sessions on security architecture in the Euro-Asian space, energy and environmental challenges, and on social developments. The aims of the workshop were inter alia to identify the main topics for the future research agenda and to lay foundations for an informal network of experts to regularly exchange ideas and information.
07. June 2010
Afghanistan
The Institute for Theology and Peace organized an international workshop on “Ways to end the impasse? Criteria for realignment of statebuilding in Afghanistan“ with experts from Afghanistan, Canada, the US and Germany on 3 and 4 June 2010. Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhrat gave a presentation on 4 June entitled „COIN and statebuilding in Afghanistan: a contradiction in terms?“.
06. June 2010
Cercle Stratégique
The 22rd Franco-German Cercle Stratégique took place on 2 and 3 June in Paris. About 50 representatives from ministries, politics, industry and think tanks discussed on the topics of a European White Book and the new strategic concept of NATO in the premises of the Assemblée nationale. Head of ZEUS Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart chaired a panel entitled “Which contents for a new White Book?”. The panelists were Hervé Mariton, spokesman on defense of the ruling party UMP, and Franz Borkenhagen, former head of planning staff of the German federal ministry of defense.
29. May 2010
18th Meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, Part II
The 18th Meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum was put under the headline of “Promoting good governance at border crossings, improving the security of land transportation and facilitating international transport by road and rail in the OSCE region”. The Meeting’s second and main part was conducted again in its traditional place – the Czernin Palace in Prague, on 24 – 26 May 2010. It was a positive observation that the Forum’s organizers at the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities did obviously pay special attention to directing key speakers’ contributions and subsequent discussions towards the security dimension of the subject. The Forum took place against the background of continuing conceptual discussions between the national delegations to the OSCE in Vienna on the future orientation of the economic and environmental dimension. A respective decision of the same title (MC.DEC/4/09) had been adopted at the Athens Ministerial Council in December 2009. Dr. Frank Evers, CORE Deputy Head, took part in the Forum as member of the international academic community.
29. May 2010
Conference “The International Crisis and the Post-Soviet States”
Elena Kropatcheva took part in a conference “The International Crisis and the Post-Soviet States” at the University of Glasgow on 13-14 May 2010. The aim of the conference was to examine the implications of the financial crisis that began in late 2008 for the post-Soviet states, particularly Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Kropatcheva presented a paper “Ukraine’s Foreign Policy Choices after Presidential Elections in 2010,” in which she examined the implication of the global financial crisis on Ukraine’s presidential elections and the foreign policy choices of the country. She considered whether the foreign policy after the “blue revolution” will be Russia- or Western-oriented, or whether the new president will be able to conduct a balanced “multi-vector” policy.
28. May 2010
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: the Role oft he EU
The fourth Steering Committee Meeting of the MULTIPART project on “Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: the Role oft he EU” took place in Pisa on 19 and 20 May 2010. Besides the IFSH ten other international research institutes are participating in MULTIPART that is funded by the EU’s 7th Framework Program. The IFSH was represented by Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart head of the Centre for European Peace and Security Studies and coordinator of working package 4a on security aspects of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships.
See for further information http://www.multi-part.eu/
18. May 2010
Ecumenical Kirchentag
The IFSH was represented at the 2nd Ecumenical Kirchentag in Munich on Mai 14 by an introductory keynote speech by Michael Brzoska on the subject of the security dilemma in developing countries. This speech introduced a panel discussion organized by the Joint Conference of the Churches and Development on the question of the relationship between security and development in conflict and post-conflict zones.
18. May 2010
Peace Report 2010 is published
Website Peace Report
07. May 2010
Focus Afghanistan
The Körber Foundation organized a panel diiscussion in the framework of a series called “Focal point Afghanistan” on 6 may 2010. The third and final debate was entitled “After Exit – what now?” The discussants were Dr. Hans-Georg Ehrhart (Head ZEUS at the IFSH) and Dr. Christian Taaks (Head International Relations, Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation). The event which was attended by 50 guests was chaired by Andreas Bormann (NDR).
28. April 2010
Hearing of the European Parliament
On 26 April 2010 Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart participated in a public hearing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Security and Defence. The topic under discussion was “EU civil-military cooperation: a comprehensive approach”. Dr Ehrhart gave a presentation on “Civil-military cooperation on the ground (Western Balkans, Afghanistan, DRC): lessons learnt”. His co-panelists were Bas Rietjens (Netherlands Defence Academy) and Francoise Krill (International Committee of the Red Cross). Richard Wright (director DG RELEX, European Commission) acted as discussant.
26. April 2010
New Publication
Subrata Ghoshroy/Götz Neuneck(eds), South Asia at a Crossroads. Conflict or Cooperation in the Age of Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense, and Space Rivalries (Demokratie, Sicherheit, Frieden, Bd. 197), Baden-Baden 2010, 330 S., ISBN 978-3-8329-5398-0.
15. April 2010
CORE Working Paper 20 ("OSCE Efforts to Promote the Rule of Law: History, Structures, Survey") released
The working paper on "OSCE Efforts to Promote the Rule of Law: History, Structures, Survey" describes the gradually evolving definition of rule-of-law promotion in the OSCE from 1973 to the present day and describes relevant OSCE structures. It also presents the results of a survey carried out by CORE among those responsible for the rule of law in the field operations in April and May 2009. It ends with conclusions and recommendations on the OSCE's promotion of the rule of law in terms of events, personnel questions, topics, and guidelines. The paper was commissioned by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany and part of a jointly conducted international workshop ("OSCE Rule-of-Law Assistance") of CORE and the German Federal Foreign Office in the Vienna Hofburg, 25-26 March 2010.
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14. April 2010
IFSH News January - March published
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29. March 2010
International Afghanistan Conference in Hamburg
Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart (Head ZEUS/IFSH), Prof Charles Pentland (Queen’s Centre for International Relations, Kingston/Ca) and Prof Sven Gareis (German Command and Staff College/FüAkBw) organized an international conference on Afghanistan on 25 and 26 March 2010. The event was funded by NATO’s Public Diploamacy Devision. More than 40 participants with various professional backgrounds (International Organisations, think tanks, armed forces, policy, NGOs, media) attended the conference and discussed in seven panels the overall topic “Security Governance by comprehensive approach? NATO ant the international community at the Afghan crossroads”. In the first panel chaired by Hans-Georg Ehrhart (IFSH) representatives of NATO (Mihai Carp)and the UN (Eckard Schiewek) presented the respective approaches. By this it became clear that an effective cooperation is being undermined by the logics of the differing concepts (reintegration versus reconciliation). The second panel (chaired by Dr Axel Krohn, speakers: Marina Laker, Canadian Embassy, and Prof Sven Gareis, FüAkBw) dealt with the comprehensive approach and its implementation. While Canada made this approach work by consequent structural reforms and strong political will Germany is still struggling to make its concept of networked security work on the ground. The third panel was chaired by Klaus Schreiner (GTZ) (panelists: Richard Roy, Canadian Forces, and Dr Jochen Hippler, INEF) dealt with the problems of counterinsurgency (COIN). The conditions for effective COIN and the similarities with complex peace support operations were debated. COIN should not be misunderstood as a mere technical problem because it is political in the first place. In the hub of each COIN operation is the question of legitimacy of the government. The fourth panel was chaired by Martin Kipping (BMZ) (panelists: Robert Lindner, Oxfam, and Citha Maass, SWP). In this panel it was emphasized that humanitarian actors cannot partner with the military in an integrationist sense. There should be a clear delineation of and respect for the different competences and logics of action. However, joint planning and the concentration on comparative advantages could be strived for. The fifth panel (Chair: Captain (Navy) ret. Heinz-Dieter Jopp, ISZA, panelists: Prof Mark Sedra, Waterloo University, and Dr Eva Gross, Free University of Brussels) broached the issue of security sector reform. The state of military and policy reform were presented and the implementation of NATO’s and the EU’s SSR policy were critically reviewed. The role of Pakistan was the main issue dealt with in the sixth panel (Chair: PD Dr Stefan Bayer, FüAkBw; panelists: PD Dr Wolfgang Wagner, SWP, and Prof Julian Schofield, Concordia University). The panelists presented the historic background and the actual challenges Pakistan is facing as well as the socio-economic conditions of its relation with Afghanistan and the special role of the Pakistani army. The final panel chaired by Prof Charles Pentland (QCIR) (panelists: Consul General Karen E. Johnes, USA, and Timo Christians, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe, and General ret. Helmut Ganser) dealt with challenges and lessons for NATO and the international community. One of them was that the “West” should stick to its own norms, another that development cooperation in a COIN environment is very problematic. This led to the conclusion that more time should be invested on strategy building and that politicians should be more cautious with regard to decisions implicating the use of military force.
28. March 2010
Public Panel Discussion on Afghanistan
On 24 March 2010, the IFSH organized a publi panel discussion which was attended by more than 70 guests. The event funded by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Deviision and chaired by Dr Hans-Georg Ehrhart was entitled “What shall be done in Afghanistan? NATO and the international community at the Afghan crossroads.” The panelists were Dr Rolf Mützenich (foreign affairs spokesman of the SPD faction in the German Parliament), William Moeller (head polical-military section of the US embassy), Mihai Carp (Internataion Staff, NATO) and Dr Wolfgang Jamann (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe). Mihai Carp explained the most important aspects of NATO’s new strategy which strives for a transfer of responsibility to the Afghan stakeholders as soon as possible. He saw progress with regard to the implementation of intensified cooperation between the various stakeholders that is the so called comprehensive approach. Bill Moeller criticized the lack of civilian and military means and asked the states involved to do better. Accordingly the US will stay engaged in Afghanistan as long as needed. Wolfgang Jamann underlined that the concept of networked security undermines the work of humanitarian and development organizations. The mingling of mandates inevitably leads to detrimental effects. He contrasted the concept of networked security with the preferred concept of Human Security. Rolf Mützenich expressed doubts whether the decision taken during the London Afghanistan conference last February will be successful. But it is worth a try. He hinted at the structural problems Germany is facing with Afghan police reform, and he emphasized the necessity to strive for much more cooperation with Afghanistan’s neighbors in order to enhance conflict resolution efforts. He also stressed the position of the SPD that the transfer of responsibility is to be implemented between 2013 and 2015. Hans-Georg Ehrhart concluded the panel discussion with a quote from ex-Chancellor Helmut Schmidt who had equaled the situation ion Afghanistan with a classic Greek tragedy. He remarked that the dynamics in this war torn country will also be influenced - positively and negatively - by the wisdom of political decisions made by the international community. Hence, the rule for future engagement should be to be more cautious when decisions on the use of force are made.
12. March 2010
Japanese-German Dialogue on Non-Proliferation
On March 8-9 Oliver Meier took part in the Japanese-German Dialogue on Non-Proliferation, which was organized by the Heinrich-Böll Foundation and the Japanese-German Center Berlin in cooperation with the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation at the Japan Institute for International Affairs in Tokyo. Oliver Meier spoke on perspectives for cooperation between Japan and Germany on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. His presentation can be found on the website of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
12. March 2010
Strategy Meeting of the Conference of European Churches
On March 2-3 Oliver Meier participated as an external expert on the strategy meeting of the Conference of European Churches in Brussels on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and spoke about the role of the European Union at the forthcoming NPT Review Conference.
01. March 2010
Afghanistan
An interview with Hans-Georg Ehrhart was published in the US newspaper Stars and Stripes on 27 February 2010. Link
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