Research at CASSIS

CASSIS concentrates on the interdisciplinary examination of traditional foreign and security issues such as inter-state conflicts, competing international systems of order and a return to geopolitics on the one hand, while also including non-traditional security challenges related to cyber and energy security, terrorism and human security (in particular health and food security) on the other.

The center’s research approach is based on three pillars:

1. Strategic Studies

Strategic Studies is an interdisciplinary science, anchored in political science, which deals with security policy issues and issues of strategic importance. Although Strategic Studies have traditionally focused on hard power and military power relations, modern Strategic Studies are primarily concerned with the question of how contemporary foreign and security policy goals can be achieved under what conditions and using which state resources.

2. Security Studies

Security Studies are a sub-discipline of International Relations. It includes peace and conflict research, research on environmental security, food security and health security, as well as questions of great power politics, geopolitics and defense policy.

3. European Integration Research

European Integration Research concentrates on open questions of European integration as well as the role of Europe and the European Union in the world. Understanding and examining government processes within the Union as well as the influence of EU policy on the citizens of European member states play a key role here.