Institute for Security Studies

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The Institute for Security Studies, also known as ISS or ISS Africa (to distinguish itself from other similarly named institutes in other parts of the world), described itself as follows: "an African organisation which aims to enhance human security on the continent. It does independent and authoritative research, provides expert policy analysis and advice, and delivers practical training and technical assistance."[1] It is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa.[2][3]

The institute was recognized as the third best African NGO in Sub-Saharan Africa by the Global Go To Think Tanks Report 2011.[4]

History

The Institute for Security Studies was originally established as the Institute for Defence Policy in 1991. ISS began with a focus in civil-military relations and democratic reform in the waning years of apartheid South Africa, but has since evolved to encompass a wide range of issue areas of human security across Africa, including: human rights, arms control, corruption and governance, climate change, and crime and criminal justice, among others.[5] Since its inception, the Institute for Security Studies has grown into a pan-African research institution, partnering with the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, and a host of governments, institutions, and organizations throughout the world.

Areas of work

ISS works in the following areas:[1]

  • Governance, crime, and justice
  • Conflict prevention and risk analysis
  • Conflict management and peace building
  • Transnational threats and international crime

Partnerships

ISS is a regional partner of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and they are currently working together on the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).[2] ISS is also a member of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Crime Justice Network (part of the UNODC).[2][6]

The Institute for Security Studies has engaged with the African Union on various platforms. ISS was a research partner with the African Union Commission in the Year of Peace and Security in 2010.[7] Additionally, the ISS website hosts as a repository for African Union documents, dating back to 1990.[8] Finally, ISS collaborates with the African Union Peace and Security Council to produce a monthly report on the security challenges and opportunities that face the continent.[9]

Corruption and Governance Programme

In 2010, the Corruption and Governance programme of the Institute for Security Studies launched the Who Owns What? Database. This is an extensive, open-source database of disclosure forms of the assets and interests of South African politicians, in an effort to increase transparency of public officials.[10] The Who Owns What? Database has been used to hold South African politicians accountable for their private interests.[11]

African Futures Project

The African Futures Project is a collaboration between the Institute for Security Studies and the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures to promote long-term strategic thinking for the African continent across a broad range of key global systems.[12] The African Futures Project has produced monographs on long-term African development, as well as a quarterly policy brief series that addresses specific development issues, such as the future of traffic accidents and fatalities or the implications of a Green Revolution for Africa.[13][14]

Reception

ISS is listed as a prominent organization in Africa in independent listings.[15][16][17]

The views of ISS staff have been cited and referenced in news stories in the African press, in connection with the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping[18][19] and in other contexts.[20][21][22] It has also been cited in some non-African publications, such as the New York Times,[23] the Wall Street Journal,[24] and The Economist.[25]

ISS has also been referenced in blog commentary on the crime and security situation in Africa, particularly South Africa.[26]

See Also

References

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  4. Global Go To Think Tanks Report 2011
  5. For a complete list of ISS programmes, see here
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  7. http://unrec.org/index/index.php/en/section-table/focus/unrec/?option=com_content&view=article&id=189&Itemid=45%E2%8C%A9=fr&fontstyle=f-larger
  8. The AU Document Repository is found here.
  9. To access the Peace and Security Council Reports, see this database: http://www.issafrica.org/pgcontent.php?UID=4200
  10. See the Who Owns What? Database at http://www.ipocafrica.org/index.php?option=com_coi&view=surnamesearch&Itemid=106
  11. Sidimba, Loyiso. What do politicians own? City Press. Published: 8/14/2011.
  12. African Futures Project site: http://www.issafrica.org/futures/
  13. Africa: Modelling Africa's Future Through the African Futures Project: http://allafrica.com/stories/201203131057.html
  14. For a full list of the African Futures Quarterly Policy Briefs, see: http://www.issafrica.org/futures/publications.php
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Further reading

External links