International Relations and Security Network
Encyclopedia
The International Relations and Security Network (ISN) is part of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
's Center for Security Studies, which is located in Zurich
, Switzerland
. It is an online information service that provides a range of open access products and resources that concentrate on international relations
(IR) and security studies.
, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs
, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
.
Today, its mission is to promote dialogue and cooperation in the fields of international relations
and security studies
, primarily by creating, distributing, processing and using open access information within the international relations and security studies communities. As part of Switzerland’s contribution to NATO’s Partnership for Peace
initiative, ISN personnel also lead the organization’s Advanced Distributed Learning
Working Group and develop joint training programs with its partners. Finally, ISN is a co-organizer of the Swiss-sponsored International Security Forum (ISF), which is a large conference held every two years in Geneva
and Zurich
on a rotating basis.
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
's Center for Security Studies, which is located in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It is an online information service that provides a range of open access products and resources that concentrate on international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
(IR) and security studies.
Overview
ISN was established in 1994 as a means of improving cooperation between security policy institutes and to make research programs, projects and papers widely available on the internet. It was initially sponsored by the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and SportsFederal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport is one of the seven departments of the Swiss federal government, headed by a member of the Swiss Federal Council.-Organisation:...
, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs
German Institute for International and Security Affairs
The Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik in Berlin is a leading German think tank and the founding institution behind the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.- History, Organization and Functions of the SWP :...
, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research was established in 1980 by the United Nations General Assembly to inform States and the global community on questions of international security, and to assist with disarmament efforts so as to facilitate progress toward greater security and...
and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies is a unique U.S. Department of Defense and German Defense Ministry security and defense studies institute...
.
Today, its mission is to promote dialogue and cooperation in the fields of international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
and security studies
Security Studies
This article refers to the discipline within the field of International Relations. For the study of security management see security management studiesSecurity Studies is an academic sub-field of the wider discipline of International Relations...
, primarily by creating, distributing, processing and using open access information within the international relations and security studies communities. As part of Switzerland’s contribution to NATO’s Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union; 22 States are members...
initiative, ISN personnel also lead the organization’s Advanced Distributed Learning
Advanced Distributed Learning
Advanced Distributed Learning is the product of the ADL Initiative, established in 1997 to standardize and modernize training and education management and delivery. The Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness oversees the ADL Initiative...
Working Group and develop joint training programs with its partners. Finally, ISN is a co-organizer of the Swiss-sponsored International Security Forum (ISF), which is a large conference held every two years in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
on a rotating basis.
Activities
ISN’s current web-based, information-providing activities and services can be divided into five main categories.- Digital LibraryDigital libraryA digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats and accessible by computers. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks...
– ISN’s Digital Library began as a repository of declassified Cold WarCold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
documents and conference proceedings relevant to PfP countries. It now contains over 40,000 downloadable documents provided by 300+ partner organizations over the years. The documents include journal articles, books, working papers and government reports, as well as a directory of international organizations, NGOs, research institutes and other institutions that provide free information on international relationsInternational relationsInternational relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. - Current IR- and Security-Related Issues and Affairs – The ISN website offers data, analyses, commentaries, podcasts (and more) on these issues.
- Communities and Partners – ISN provides an online knowledge network of partner institutions and affiliates, consisting of international organizations (IOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), state ministries, think tanks, universities and research institutes.
- E-learningE-learningE-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
– ISN has a small E-learning and advanced distributed learning team that works with NATO PfP to provide defense and security sector training via free online courses, downloadable web-learning technologies and software components such as ILIAS LSM, as well as consulting services for the production of online learning materials. - ISN Blog – Blogging activity on this site focuses on international relations- and security-centered topics, along with discussions on information technologies, web-learning developments and more.
External links
- International Relations and Security Network (ISN). (official website)
- Center for Security Studies (CSS).