About the foundation
Founders:
†Béla Király Prof. Emeritus
†Iván Völgyes Prof. of Political Science
László Valki Prof. of International Law
Péter Deák Prof. of Security and Military Affairs
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Establishment and major functions of our foundation
The Center for Security and Defense Studies Foundation was established with the support and sponsorship of the ERASMUS Foundation for Democracy and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. The Center for Security and Defense Studies has been fully operational since November 1990. It is a non-governmental, non-profit educational and research institution, located and registered in Budapest, Hungary.
The major functions of the Center are international and domestic research, analysis, the organization of professional conferences, and the provision of expert advice regarding international security and defense problem areas. Although the major areas of concern for the Center are geographically concentrated in Europe, inclusive Eastern Europe and the states of the former USSR, its interest in international political and economic affairs is global in scope.
Among its research projects the following are worthy of international interest: “Armies in the new democracies”, “The security doctrine of the Hungarian Republic”, “Potential reform of the military in Hungary”, “Problems and prospects of reorganization and restructuring of the Hungarian defense industry”, “National defense and problems of economic development in Eastern Europe”, “Air defense and the security of the airspace”, “Minorities and international security”, “Human conversion of the military machinery”, “Social and psychological problems of the adaptation to the military service”, “Opinions concerning the military service of Roma youth” “Military administration and the civil control of the defense forces”, “The relationship of NATO and the Visegrad countries”, “Migration and the ethnic minorities”, “Options of a professional army in Hungary”, “Hungary’s security policy in practice”, “The institutionalization of the European security process”, “Interests and criteria in the process of joining the Euro-Atlantic integration”. Most of the research project are commissioned and paid for by government and non-government organizations as well as commercial and public entities.
The Center provides timely briefing papers – within 72 hours of actual events – and extensive analyses both in written and in oral forms. Such briefs are offered at cost bases to organizations interested in expert advice and positions to be taken. Among the better known brief analysis inter alia,
“The Gulf war: outcomes and opportunities”, “After – and before – the new NATO”, “The extinction of Yugoslavia”, “Security problems after the Czechoslovak divorce” “The experiences of Spain in joining NATO”, “Hungary and the international terrorism”, “Security challenges in the Balkan crisis”, “Russia and NATO”, “Israel and the chances of the peace process”, “The security philosophy of Austria”, are worthwhile of special mention.
Each year the Center also organizes several national and international conferences dealing with questions of international security and defense affairs. Such conferences, among others, dealt with the problems of neutrality in post-Communist Europe, the new armies in the new democracies, threat perceptions in Europe, environmental problems and security consideration, the problems of civilian service in the peacetime army, NATO and East-Central Europe: intentions and realities, the future of arms reduction, professional armies in the future, the relationship of society and army in democracies, the security of Europe in 2000, the civil control of the Armed Forces, international migration as a security risk, catastrophes as security challenges. Some titles of conferences: “Security and protection of citizens in the 21st Century”; “Security policy alternatives at the turn of the century in the limelight of ideologies – New Strategies”; “Experiences of the management of the Kosovo crisis and their utilization in the fields of security policy and defence development”; “The dilemma of immigration policy and stability in the process of EU accession”; “The consequences of NATO’s enlargement to the security, strategical and geopolitical situation of Central Europe and its countries”;
The Center also provides expert advice to government organizations and departments, NGO’s, political parties, as well as academic and educational institutions. This special advisory service has been utilized by all branches of the Hungarian government and international institutions alike. Such advice in all instances reflected the competence of the specialists and has been strictly according to guidelines that guarantee the political independence of the professional staff.
The Center has a close cooperation with several domestic and foreign research institutes focusing on the fields of strategic, economic, and foreign affairs issues.