Our Mission

The Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) is an interdisciplinary research center at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn in the field of strategic foresight, European and security policy research. Committed to the approach "Global Challenges Need European Responses", CASSIS contributes in interdisciplinary and inter-institutional work to develop, evaluate and publicly discuss European strategies to current challenges in the field of foreign and security policy.

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Our Partners

Since 2019, CASSIS has developed into an important platform for the transfer of academic expertise and knowledge on pressing strategic topics both to the academic and non-academic audiences through a range of our research and high-profile teaching and event formats. While doing so, we were able to receive invaluable support from our great partners. CASSIS is very grateful to their support and we are proud to be well connected to many wonderful institutions. Together with our valued and trusted partners, we are able to foster discussions on matters of strategic importance near and abroad and jointly conduct and advance important research projects.

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Current

Dossier Middle East

The experts at CASSIS analyse the current conflict in Gaza and other escalations in the Middle East and offer relevant information on its context and background.

Dossier Ukraine

The experts of CASSIS offer in various formats from their interdisciplinary perspectives classification and analysis on the Russian attack on Ukraine and its background.

The International Security Forum Bonn

The International Security Forum Bonn (ISFB) serves as a platform to convene distinguished international experts and practitioners of security and foreign policy to debate the future of transatlantic relations and key challenges in international politics. Held almost annually since 2016, the ISFB is the most important international security conference in North Rhine-Westphalia and all neighboring German federal states.

ISFB

Our Focus

The content focus of CASSIS is, on the one hand, on the interdisciplinary engagement with traditional foreign and security policy topics such as interstate conflicts, competing international order systems, and a return of geopolitics, and on the other hand, on non-traditional security challenges related to space, cyber, climate, and energy security, terrorism, and human security.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.

Vernetzte Sicherheit, globale Nachhaltigkeit.png

Integrated Security and Global Sustainability

Lead: Prof. Dr. Volker Kronenberg
Prof. Dr. Wolfram Hilz
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie

To Project

Strategic Competition in Space

Lead:
Dr. Enrico Fels
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Mayer

To Project

Global Infrastructures

Politics and Governance of Global Infrastructures

Lead:
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Mayer

To Project

Challenge East - Handlungsstrategien der Europäer in der östlichen Nachbarschaft

Lead: Prof. Dr. Wolfram Hilz Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder

To Project

About the Podcast

"Was wird?"-Podcast

At irregular intervals, CASSIS also hosts the "Was wird?"-podcast, together with Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder and Michael Krons.

About the Podcast

News

Exploring Shenzhen’s state gig economy: The ‘eyes and ears’ of China’s smart state

China’s smart governance agenda is often narrated as the seamless quantification and automation of core state functions through AI, sensors, and integrated platforms. Using Shenzhen’s grid governance, we show that frontline operations remain labour-intensive and precariously staffed.

Brussels Needs a New Narrative on China-EU Relations

If Europe wants to reduce security vulnerabilities in its economic relationship with China, it must embed those policies within a strategically positive narrative.

Digital trade trap? A wake-up call for the EU’s Digital Decade

In collaboration with the Vodafone Institute, a team from CASSIS has examined digital dependencies in a policy brief. The innovative analysis reveals concerning challenges for Europe’s digital future: On one hand, Ireland’s disproportionate influence on the continent’s digital trade balance, and on the other, an excessive dependence on China in the trade of digital goods.

Policy Brief on the EU's Digital Dependency

As part of the “Digital Dependence Index 2.0” project, in collaboration with the Vodafone Institute, CASSIS is publishing its first policy brief, “Digital Trade Trap? A Wake-up Call for the EU’s Digital Decade,” which shows that despite an apparent digital trade surplus, the EU remains heavily dependent on the U.S. and China and has structural weaknesses that jeopardize its digital sovereignty. 

Why Did Germany Sign the Artemis Accords? An Analysis of Multilateralism in Space Policy

The Young Academics: Outer Space series, edited by Dr. Antje Nötzold, Dr. Enrico Fels, Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Klimburg-Witjes, highlights the growing importance of space utilization for politics, economics, and society. It covers social science disciplines such as political science, sociology, ethics, technology assessment, and law. The aim is to provide young academics with a platform to publish their contributions on space utilization. The series places particular emphasis on theoretical foundations, interdisciplinary analyses, and critical assessments of the strategic challenges and implications of space utilization.

Stellenausschreibung für eine Studentische oder Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft

Die Junior-Professur für Internationale Beziehungen und globale Technologiepolitik sucht zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt (befristet bis 31.8.2026 mit Aussicht auf Verlängerung) eine studentische oder wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft (8 h/Woche). Die Position dient der inhaltlichen und organisatorischen Unterstützung der Lehre und Forschung an der Junior-Professur für Internationale Beziehungen und globale Technologiepolitik.

Stellenausschreibung für eine Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft

Die Junior-Professur für Internationale Beziehungen und globale Technologiepolitik sucht zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt (befristet bis 31.8.2026 mit Aussicht auf Verlängerung) eine wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft (8 h/Woche). Die Position dient der inhaltlichen und organisatorischen Unterstützung der Lehre und Forschung an der Junior-Professur für Internationale Beziehungen und globale Technologiepolitik.

CASSIS congratulates Prof. Dr. Christine Schirrmacher on appointment to BMI advisory board

The Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) warmly congratulates Prof. Dr. Christine Schirrmacher on her appointment to the newly established “Advisory Group on Preventing and Combating Islamism” of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

All News

Current Media Contributions

Prof. Dr. Maximilan Mayer and Dr. Nadine Godehardt on EU-China relations

In an article co-authored with Dr. Nadine Godehardt and published in *The Diplomat* on May 25, Prof. Dr. Maximilian Mayer analyzes the current challenges in relations between the EU and the People’s Republic of China.

Dr. Frank Umbach in an interview with n-tv regarding the suspected arson attack on a substation in Reutlingen

Dr. Frank Umbach appeared on n-tv on June 9 to discuss the suspected arson attack on a substation in Reutlingen

Dr. Joachim Weber in an interview with phoenix vor Ort regarding the failure of FCAS

Dr. Joachim Weber visited phoenix on June 9 to discuss the failure of FCAS.

Dr. Hendrik Ohnesorge appeared on ZDF heute live to discuss the entry bans surrounding the World Cup

On June 9, Dr. Hendrik Ohnesorge discussed the entry bans imposed ahead of the FIFA World Cup in the United States and their implications in an interview with ZDF heute live.

Dr. Frank Umbach in an interview with n-tv on Russia's refusal to engage in peace talks with Ukraine

Dr. Frank Umbach appeared on n-tv on June 6 to discuss the Russian president’s rejection of peace negotiations with Ukraine.

An interview with Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder on phoenix der Tag regarding the EU-Western Balkans Summit

Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder appeared on the June 6 episode of “phoenix der Tag” to discuss the EU Western Balkans Summit and the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

Dr. Frank Umbach in an interview with n-tv about the St. Petersburg Economic Forum

In an interview on June 4 on n-tv, Dr. Frank Umbach analyzed Vladimir Putin’s speech at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas in an interview with WeLT on the latest developments in the Middle East conflict

On June 3, Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas discussed the latest developments in the Middle East conflict in an interview with WeLT.

All Media Contributions

Events

CASSIS offers a wide range of events on current foreign and security policy issues.

All Events

Upcoming events

Tuesday Jun 16, 2026

Back to the Moon – Europe’s Next Major Step in Space

Haus der Bildung, ...

06:00 PM - 08:00 PM

The Moon is once again moving to the center of international spaceflight ambitions – as a scientific testbed, a potential source of raw materials, and a ...

Thursday Jun 18, 2026

Space Debris

University Main ...

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Beschreibung der Veranstaltung. Es gibt eine Mindest- und Höchstzahl für Wörter hier. (Frag mich nicht warum, deshalb muss ich auch so viel hier ...

Tuesday Jun 23, 2026

Ground-Based Space Medicine Research for Life in Microgravity

Haus der Bildung, ...

06:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Humans in space are not only a symbol of technical mastery – they are also a fascinating subject of medical research. The extreme environment of space ...

Tuesday Jun 23, 2026

Changing Security Dynamics in the Persian Gulf

Genscherallee 3, 53113 ...

06:00 PM

Since the outbreak of the war in February 2026, Operation “Epic Fury,” initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, has significantly altered the security ...

Past events

Tuesday Jun 09, 2026

A Changing World Order: Opportunities and Risks for Europe

Institut français Bonn, ...

06:15 PM - 08:00 PM

The global order is changing, and Europe must change with it. To adequately address the challenges of our time, we need a Europe that is capable of taking ...

Tuesday Jun 09, 2026

The Eye in the Sky – Europe's Weather Satellites

Campus Poppelsdorf

06:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Is it still weather or already climate? Weather and climate change are global phenomena that we cannot measure without space travel. Satellite-based Earth ...

Tuesday Jun 02, 2026

The Final Frontier? – What we learn about Earth from Space

Campus Poppelsdorf

06:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Space is not only a place of strategic infrastructure – it is also a unique place where we can learn many things that will help us here on Earth. Exploring our ...

Thursday May 21, 2026

The Investigation of Human Rights Violations Using Satellites

University Main ...

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

The increasing availability of commercial satellite imagery has created new opportunities for civil society actors to document human rights violations and ...

Event Archive

Current Scientific Publications

Exploring Shenzhen’s state gig economy: The ‘eyes and ears’ of China’s smart state

Brussels Needs a New Narrative on China-EU Relations

If Europe wants to reduce security vulnerabilities in its economic relationship with China, it must embed those policies within a strategically positive narrative.

Digital trade trap? A wake-up call for the EU’s Digital Decade

Bonn Future Lab Report 2025

The Bonn Future Lab on Strategic Foresight convened as the second segment of the International Security Forum Bonn 2025 from 31 October to 1 November 2025 in the UN and Federal City of Bonn. Within the framework of this multi-day format, the strategic challenges, risks, and opportunities arising from the intensifying competition over space utilization were deliberated, alongside an examination of the prospective trajectories for German and European space policy. This year’s edition of the Bonn Future Lab was held under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, Dorothee Bär.

Soft Power and Charismatic Leadership in German-American Relations

The origin, development, and significance of soft power and charismatic leadership in German-American relations are the subject of the latest publication by Bonn-based political scientist Hendrik W. Ohnesorge. This is his postdoctoral thesis, in which Ohnesorge examines over five centuries of transatlantic relations up to these present days.

France is reeling – Europe is on edge

In this essay, Dr. Landry Charrier examines the consequences of France's domestic political instability, focusing specifically on the implications of a potential electoral victory for the right-wing Rassemblement National (RN).

The Space Aspect of the Russian-Ukrainian War

In their article, PD Dr. Antje Nötzold and Dr. Enrico Fels examine the space aspects of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Why Did Germany Sign the Artemis Accords? An Analysis of Multilateralism in Space Policy

All Publications

Contact

CASSIS - Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Contact

+49 (0)228/73 3579

cassis(at)uni-bonn.de

Adress

4th Floor
Römerstraße 164
D-53117 Bonn