Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS)

Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Bonn in Germany, dedicated to the analysis of contemporary security, strategic, and European integration challenges. Founded in 2009, it serves as a central hub for academic and policy-oriented research, bridging the gap between scholarly inquiry and practical policymaking in Berlin, Brussels, and beyond. The center's work encompasses a wide spectrum of issues, from European Union foreign policy and transatlantic relations to cybersecurity, energy security, and geopolitical shifts affecting Europe.

History and establishment

CASSIS was established in 2009 under the auspices of the University of Bonn, an institution with a long tradition in political science and law, notably through its affiliation with the renowned Institute for Science and Ethics. Its creation was driven by the need for a dedicated forum to address the complex, interconnected security dilemmas emerging in the post-Cold War and post-9/11 world. The center's founding was supported by key figures within the university and aimed to consolidate expertise from various disciplines, including political science, history, law, and economics. From its inception, CASSIS was designed to engage directly with the policy community in the federal city of Bonn and the national capital of Berlin, as well as with international organizations like NATO and the European Commission in Brussels.

Research focus and activities

The research agenda at CASSIS is organized around several core pillars, primarily focusing on European security, strategic studies, and the processes of European integration. A significant portion of its work analyzes the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, NATO's evolving role, and challenges to the rules-based international order. Specific research clusters delve into areas such as hybrid threats, disinformation campaigns, arms control regimes like the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and security dynamics in regions like the Eastern Partnership countries and the Indo-Pacific. The center regularly hosts academic conferences, expert workshops, and public lecture series featuring prominent scholars and practitioners, such as analysts from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Organizational structure and leadership

CASSIS is integrated into the Faculty of Arts at the University of Bonn and operates under the directorship of political scientist Volker Kronenberg. The leadership team typically includes a managing director and a board of advisors comprising senior university professors and external experts from institutions like the Federal Academy for Security Policy. Research is conducted by a team of senior fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral candidates, often in collaboration with other departments such as the Center for European Integration Studies. The organizational model emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, linking researchers from the university's clusters of excellence and its partner network across Europe and North America.

Publications and public outreach

The center disseminates its research findings through a variety of publication formats, including peer-reviewed monographs, policy briefs, and analytical papers. Its output often addresses pressing issues such as EU-China relations, the security implications of climate change, and debates surrounding European strategic autonomy. CASSIS actively engages in public discourse through events like the "Bonn Forum on Global Politics," media commentaries in outlets like Der Spiegel and Deutschlandfunk, and contributions to major international conferences such as the Munich Security Conference. This outreach strategy is designed to inform both the academic community and policymakers in Germany's Bundestag and federal ministries.

Partnerships and network

CASSIS maintains a wide network of institutional partnerships with leading think tanks, universities, and research bodies globally. Key collaborators include the French Institute of International Relations in Paris, the Royal United Services Institute in London, and the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. Within the University of Bonn, it works closely with the Institute for Political Science and Sociology and the International Center for Conversion. These partnerships facilitate joint research projects, scholar exchanges, and collaborative events, strengthening the center's role in transnational debates on security and integration. Its network extends to governmental bodies, including the Federal Foreign Office and the European External Action Service, ensuring its research remains relevant to contemporary policy challenges.