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ISD Areas of Work


ISD Initiatives


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Security and Defence

The security challenges Europe faces at the start of the twenty-first century are complex and transnational. From international terrorism and cybercrime, to failing states and global organised crime, Europe's responses will only be successful if they combine a detailed and nuanced understanding of the threats with a range of new tools, partnerships and networks.

ISD’s work on security and defence seeks to help shape the new security architecture and enhance the sharing of knowledge, good practice and lessons learned. Through a range of transnational and international networks – high-level and strategic, as well as policy and working level – ISD fosters collaborative approaches to some of the most pressing security challenges we face today.

This area of work includes the following projects and initiatives:

Policy Planners' Network

The PPN is a network of eight EU countries which brings together policy planners from security and integration ministries, taking a comprehensive approach to the challenges of radicalisation and social polarisation.

More about Policy Planners' Network
 

Club of Three Special Sessions on Defence

These sessions bring together leading figures from the defence industry and government primarily from France, the UK and Germany to address Europe’s defence requirements in the face of evolving global threats.

More about Club of Three Special Sessions on Defence
 

Counterextremism.org

ISD has developed and launched this unique online resource aimed at policy makers working on radicalisation and polarisation.

More about Counterextremism.org
 

AMEURUS

This initiative (America-Europe-Russia) was launched in 2001 to facilitate the normalisation of diplomatic, economic and cultural relations through structured high-level dialogue between America, Europe and Russia.

More about AMEURUS
 

Frontiers of Europe

This initiative worked with the business community, policy makers and experts to further discussions on Europe's border regions amongst Western governments.

More about Frontiers of Europe
 

Recent Events

Humanitas Visiting Professorship in War Studies
Jay Winter
29 February - 15 March 2012
University of Cambridge

 

Prison and Probation Officers Practitioner Exchange
Managing Extremist Offenders from a Practitioners' Perspective
5 - 6 December 2011
Birmingham

 

10th Meeting of the European Policy Planners' Network (PPN)
Home Office, London
15 - 16 November 2011
London

 

9th Meeting of the European Policy Planners' Network (PPN)
The Internet and Radicalisation
14 - 15 June 2011
Stockholm

 

All Security and Defence events


Research and Policy Papers

Tackling Extremism: De-radicalisation and Disengagement

May 2012

This policy briefing was released to coincide with the Conference on Tackling Extremism, co-hosted in Copenhagen by ISD, the Danish presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration.

Prison and Probation Officer Practitioner Exchange: De-radicalisation in Prison

Sebastien Feve, February 2012

This report provides an overview of key themes and areas of focus from ISD's pan-European Prison and Probation Officer Practitioner Exchange, held in December 2011.

The Changing Face of Al Qaeda

Rachel Briggs, January 2012

This paper, writtten by ISD's Research and Policy Director, is based on a lecture originally delivered at ISD in early 2012. 

Radicalisation: The Role of the Internet

Policy Planners' Network, June 2011

This working paper was prepared for the 9th PPN Meeting in Stockholm.

The Role of Civil Society in Counter-radicalisation and De-radicalisation

Policy Planners' Network, October 2010

This working paper was prepared for the 8th PPN meeting in Brussels and circulated at 'Preventing Violent Radicalisation: The Role of Civil Society', a conference organised by the Belgian EU Presidency on 15 October 2010.

Comparative Evaluation Framework for Counter-radicalisation

Policy Planners' Network, June 2010

This working paper was prepared for the 7th PPN Meeting in Copenhagen.

Development of Religious Instruction and Institutions: 'Imam Training' in Europe

Policy Planners' Network, March 2010

This working paper was prepared for the 6th PPN Meeting in Madrid.

Crisis Communications and Management: Discussion Document on Developing More Effective Strategies

Policy Planners' Network, October 2009

This working paper was prepared for the 5th PPN Meeting in Amsterdam.

Developing an Assessment Framework for (Muslim) Movements and Organisations

Policy Planners' Network, October 2009

This working paper was prepared for the 5th PPN Meeting in Amsterdam.

Exploring New Vehicles for a Strategic European Engagement with Russia

Lord Owen, March 2009

In this paper, the former UK Foreign Secretary and EU peace negotiator argues that, in dealing with the EU's relationship with the Russian Federation, it might be beneficial to to ask ourselves how we envision that relationship in 2020.

Public Policy for European Muslims: Facts and Perceptions

Professor Jytte Klausen, February 2008

This report discusses questions on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and inclusion within European societies, particularly with reference to Muslims and other minorities.

America and Europe: Moving Towards 2020

Sir Stephen Wall and Professor James Goldgeier, February 2007

These essays and commentaries were prepared as part of an international conference held in Washington DC in February 2007, organised by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, ISD and the Europaeum.

Leading activists from pro-democracy movements in the Middle East, speaking at a Weidenfeld Debate, February 2012
Vanessa Redgrave, Humanitas Visiting Professor in Drama 2012, speaking at the University of Oxford, February 2012.
HE Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Foreign Minister, addresses an invited audience at an ISD policy breakfast, October 2011
Historian Saul Friedlander, Inaugural Humanitas Visiting Professor in Historiography at the University of Oxford, May 2012
CEDAR Chair Ahmed Larouz, addressing the Social Innovation and Social Action Conference, Lambeth Palace, November 2011
Lord Weidenfeld and Sir Ronald Grierson, co-founders of the Weidenfeld Scholarships and Leadership Programme, April 2010
Jonathan Powell, former Chief of Staff to Tony Blair, addresses the inaugural Turkey Workshop, London, September 2011
Journalist and blogger Sunny Hundal, delivering a presentation at ISD's Social Media and Intolerance workshop, April 2012
Peter Kellner, President of YouGov and Dr David Muir, Faith in Britain, at the launch conference of the Phoenix Initiative, October 2010