Security politics

Our research focuses on issues of security and security politics: we address the questions of how and by whom security, insecurity and risks are defined, and whose security is considered to be relevant. We analyze security policies, institutions, technologies, and practices from the perspective of critical security studies, including feminist and postcolonial approaches. Additionally, we research the forms, characteristics, causes, processes, and effects of terrorism, extremism, radicalization as well as hybrid threats to Austrian, European and global security. We take different ideological orientations as well as individual, group, and state actors into account.

• Security Regimes
• Anti-Terror and Security Policies
• Extremism, Radicalization and Terrorism
• Hybrid Threats
• Security Technologies
• Border Politics
• Gender and security; Women, Peace, and Security

Europe, democracy and relations with the neighbourhood

Our research focuses on the relations between the EU and its immediate neighborhood: the Western Balkan states, Turkey, and the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region. We examine the effects of the EU accession processes and the European Neighborhood Policy, and analyze the foreign policies of these countries towards the EU. We further investigate the societal and political dynamics within these countries, with a particular focus on democratization processes, the factors which contribute to the rise of authoritarian and illiberal forces, and the functioning of state and political institutions, as well as their impact on the foreign relations of the respective states.

• EU accession processes
• EU Neighborhood Policy
• Euro-Med Relations
• Autocratization, authoritarian Populism and the struggle for Democracy
• State, Statehood and Governance
• Transnationalism and Diaspora Policies

Multilateralism and the world of geopolitics

The liberal world order is in flux. Emerging international and regional actors are challenging the dominance of the West and Western-style institutions. Multilateral organizations such as the UN, the OSCE, but also NATO are facing major challenges. Our research starts here and examines the impact of these changes on various levels of international politics. It addresses the question of the future of international organizations and the international system and examines the implications for warfare and peacebuilding. We also examine the economic, social, and systemic drivers behind geopolitics. We take a critical approach that sees power politics as the outcome of cultural, social, economic, and political processes.

• The Future of international organisations
• The international order / international law
• War and peace building
• Geopolitics / power politics
• Transatlantic partnership

Regional Focus

The oiip has many years of expertise in the following regions and countries:

• Western Balkans
• Middle East and North Africa
• Turkey
• China
• Indo-Pacific
• USA

We additionally provide expertise on the role of the USA in the world and Euro-Atlantic relations.

We follow social, societal, and political trends and developments and collaborate with partner institutions, researchers, civil society actors, political actors, and media representatives in our focal regions. We are member to different research networks such as EuroMesco, the CATS network, BiEPAG, as well as a partner of the International Studies Association (ISA).