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.
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.
Current
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.
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© CASSIS
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.
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.
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© NASA
Integrated Security and Global Sustainability
Lead: Prof. Dr. Volker Kronenberg
Prof. Dr. Wolfram Hilz
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie
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Security and Strategy Research
Henry Kissinger Professorship for Security and Strategy Research
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie
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Global Infrastructures
Politics and Governance of Global Infrastructures
Lead:
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Mayer
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Challenge East - Handlungsstrategien der Europäer in der östlichen Nachbarschaft
Lead: Prof. Dr. Wolfram Hilz Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder
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"Was wird?"-Podcast
At irregular intervals, CASSIS also hosts the "Was wird?"-podcast, together with Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder and Michael Krons.
News
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.
International Security Forum Bonn features a highly distinguished line-up
From 29 October to 1 November, the city of Bonn will once again host the high-profile “International Security Forum Bonn” (ISFB), bringing together internationally renowned experts and practitioners from the fields of security, strategy, and foreign policy to discuss the future of transatlantic relations and key global challenges.This year’s main themes are the transformation of European security dynamics and space policy.
CASSIS Bonn and GSP e.V. sign cooperation agreement
The Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) at the University of Bonn and the German Society for Security Policy (GSP) have signed a cooperation agreement to deepen their collaboration in the field of security policy education, information, and communication.
Policy brief on the EU's hydrogen pathway
Based on the report “H2 Reality Check – Reappraising the EU's H2 Strategy in a New Era of Geopolitical Disruptions,” CASSIS has published an EU Policy Brief that summarizes the weaknesses and risks of the current EU hydrogen strategy in an evidence-based and practical manner while also providing concrete proposals for a more resilient energy policy.
Tech Middle Power Cooperation and Workarounding
The dataset provides a comprehensive overview of cooperation initiatives involving 24 tech middle powers and 32 additional partner countries between 1990 and July 2025. It covers projects across eight world regions, with collaborations involving the United States or China deliberately excluded. The findings clearly show that the strategy of workarounding is gaining momentum worldwide. A more in-depth analysis will be presented in the edited volume Workarounding: Tech Middle Power Cooperation in a Turbulent World, edited by Maximilian Mayer, Gedaliah Afterman, Narayanappa Janardhan, and Laura Mahrenbach, to be published later this year by Palgrave Macmillan.
Current Media Contributions
Dr. Frank Umbach on n-tv discussing tensions between the US and Iran
Dr. Frank Umbach was interviewed by n.tv on January 31, where he commented on the threats of war between the US and Iran.
Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu in the Frankfurter Rundschau
On January 31, Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu was quoted in an article in the Frankfurter Rundschau discussing China’s objectives and the role of the United States in the changing global order.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie in the Basler Zeitung
On January 30, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie was quoted in an article discussing the life and work of Carl Schmitt.
Dr. Frank Umbach in an interview with n-tv on the new Sanctions against Iran
On January 29, Dr. Frank Umbach appeared on n-tv to discuss the European Union’s new sanctions against Iran. He argued that, given the immense pressure generated by the regime’s brutal actions, these measures had become unavoidable.
Dr. Frank Umbach in an Interview with WDR5 Morgenecho
On January 26, Dr. Frank Umbach appeared on WDR 5’s Morgenecho, where he discussed the security risks associated with offshore wind farms.
Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas on the transatlantic alliance on Euronews.
On January 25, Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas analyzed the state and future of the transatlantic alliance in an article for Euronews.
Dr. Moritz Brake in an interview with NDR Info
On January 26, Dr. Moritz Brake was interviewed on NDR Info, where he analyzed the vulnerability of offshore wind farms and the requirements for protecting this critical infrastructure.
Dr. Frank Umbach on the new U.S. defense strategy on n-tv.
On January 24, Dr. Frank Umbach appeared on n-tv to analyze the new U.S. defense strategy. He emphasized that Europe must develop its own strength, clearly define its boundaries and interests, and firmly defend them.
Events
CASSIS offers a wide range of events on current foreign and security policy issues.
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Upcoming events
The Consequences of Digitalising Collective Memory in China
Poststraße 26, 53111 ...
04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Building on their pioneering volume, this session delves into how rapidly evolving digital technologies are reshaping the politics of memory in contemporary ...
Europe's Place in Space – Why Space Travel is a Key Issue
Campus Poppelsdorf
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Space travel is experiencing a renaissance – technologically, economically, and geopolitically. It is no longer just about science and prestige, but also about ...
Spring School Outer Space Cooperation in the Middle East 2026
To Be Announced
Whole Day
Space-based infrastructure is crucial to modern societies, supporting navigation, communication, weather forecasting, and military functions. As reliance on ...
Past events
Comprehensive crisis prevention in Germany – can we do it?
Visitor Center of the ...
07:00 PM
The concept of holistic security provision deliberately encompasses more than just civil and
military defense. It is clearly about much more than that. ...
2025: A review of security policies
Online event
06:30 PM - 08:00 PM
As part of the Franco-German Strategic Dialogue, two renowned experts from France and Germany will jointly assess foreign and security policy developments in ...
Russian Occupation Policy: Forced Conversion and Terror
Festsaal der Universität ...
05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
What form does Russian rule over the occupied Ukrainian territories take—and what means are used to secure it? What goals is Moscow pursuing with its ...
Two years after October 7 - Israel's strategic situation
Moltke Hall, Federal ...
07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Recent developments have given rise to cautious optimism that the war against Israel unleashed by Hamas two years ago, with its devastating consequences for ...
Current Scientific Publications
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
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.
“Research Security” in Germany and the United States
The authors investigate the concept of "research security" in the context of rising geopolitical tensions, comparing how it is implemented in Germany and the US. The study focuses on how research security is framed and put into practice within science policy, showing that greater attention to the topic does not necessarily lead to securitization.
Essay: "The failure of 'Never again'?"
In his essay, James D. Bindenagel examines the development and current threat to the “never again” promise. The essay was published in the volume “Wenn das Gestern anklopft. Weimar und die Wiederkehr der Geschichte,” edited by Philipp Ruch and Thomas Weber, himself a fellow at CASSIS.
The Digitalisation of Memory Practices in China
On September 25, 2025, Maximilian Mayer and Frederik Schmitz published "The Digitalisation of Memory Practices in China: Contesting the Curating State." at Bristol University Press. The volume was supported by TRA 5 Present Pasts and provides the first comprehensive analysis of how memory and heritage in China is being reshaped in the digital age.
Read more here.
CASSIS - Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn