Specifically, the aims of the EISS are two-fold:
About
The Initiative
The European Initiative for Security Studies (EISS) is a Europe-wide multidisciplinary network of scholars that share the goal of consolidating security studies in Europe.
Creating a Network
To develop and sustain a Europe-wide network in the field of security studies. This gives visibility to the range of individual and collective research projects that are currently underway in Europe and beyond.
Creating a Platform
To establish a forum for the exchange of ideas in order to foster new joint research projects and develop international research partnerships.
What makes us unique
The EISS has three main characteristics: it is (1) thematically-driven and open to all theoretical approaches, (2) multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, and (3) geographically inclusive.
- Open to all approaches
- The EISS is not limited to one specific theoretical approach to security studies, but instead seeks to be inclusive. This is reflected, for instance, in the EISS Conference's panels, which cover a large range of themes in the broad field of security studies. The EISS welcomes contributions on both so-called "traditional" and "non-traditional" security issues.
- Multidisciplinary
- The EISS is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary in that it gathers, among others, historians, political scientists, economists, geographers, anthropologists and sociologists sharing an interest in developing security studies in Europe.
- Geographically inclusive
- The EISS seeks to be as inclusive as possible from a geographical perspective, including scholars from all of Europe (Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Europe). At the same time, the EISS welcomes projects focusing on any region of the world. Each year, the Annual Conference is organised on a rotational basis in a different European country.
- Open to all backgrounds
- Early-career scholars, members of the armed forces, of diplomatic services, as well as national and international civil servants are all welcome.
Our ambition
- To help overcome the existing fragmentation in European security studies, and to foster and consolidate a European field of security studies.
- To contribute to promoting academic excellence in Europe and to nurture the development of a new generation of scholars that engage on international security issues with their counterparts across the globe.
- To foster a network of academics who can contribute to public debates through academic research and instruction, and support informed judgment on defence and security issues within the civil society.
Who runs EISS
Meet the Board & team
Our Board members advise and steer the organisation, notably through thematic Working Groups. A small support team handles day-to-day operations.