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

Security and Strategy Research

Henry Kissinger Professorship for Security and Strategy Research

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie

To Professorship

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

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.

All News

Current Media Contributions

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. Hans-Dieter Lucas in the Berliner Zeitung on the German–Italian partnership

On January 22, Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas analyzed in the Berliner Zeitung the significance of a stronger German–Italian partnership for the future of Europe.

Dr. Joachim Weber on Greenland on phoenix vor Ort during the World Economic Forum.

On January 22, Dr. Joachim Weber appeared on phoenix vor Ort to discuss the current state of the Greenland dispute in the context of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Dr. Joachim Weber as a guest on phoenix vor Ort

On January 20, Dr. Joachim Weber commented in an interview with phoenix vor Ort on the announced U.S. tariffs against European states, should an attempt to take over Greenland fail.

Dr. Joachim Weber as a guest on ZDF’s Mittagsmagazin.

On January 16, Dr. Joachim Weber commented on ZDF’s Mittagsmagazin regarding the recent efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump to bring Greenland under American control.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Matthias Herdegen in an interview with WELT

On January 16, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Matthias Herdegen commented in an interview with WELT on the current state of international law and provided a legal assessment of recent international developments under international law.

Dr. Joachim Weber in an Interview with NDR Info

On January 15, Dr. Joachim Weber appeared in an interview on NDR Info. During the discussion, he addressed the deployment of European troops to Greenland, the security threats surrounding the island, and U.S. interests.

Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad at Markus Lanz

On January 13, Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad appeared as a guest on Markus Lanz. In the second half of the talk show, he contextualized footage of the demonstrations in Iran and criticized the regime’s willingness to resort to violence.

All Media Contributions

Events

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

All Events

Past events

Tuesday Dec 16, 2025

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 ...

Monday Nov 17, 2025

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 ...

Monday Nov 10, 2025

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 ...

Tuesday Oct 28, 2025

Hypersonic - game changer or overrated technology?

Genscherallee 3, 53113 ...

07:00 PM - 08:30 PM

The lecture will begin by reviewing the technical and physical fundamentals of hypersonic systems in order to establish a common understanding of the ...

Event Archive

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

“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.

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