Institute for Security Studies

The institute was originally established as the Institute for Defence Policy in 1991 by [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakkie-cilliers-a74a9b25/ Jakkie Cilliers] and PB Mertz. In 1996, it was renamed the Institute for Security Studies and the organisation shifted its research focus from South Africa to Africa as a whole.{{Cite web|last=ISSAfrica.org|title=How we work|url=https://issafrica.org/about-us/how-we-work|access-date=2021-08-27|website=ISS Africa|language=en}} Cilliers served the South African Defence Force (SADF) during apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s, reaching the rank of commandant, then became an apartheid state security official before founding the ISS.{{Cite web |last=Cilliers |first=Jakkie |date=18 April 2023 |title=Jakkie Cilliers |url=https://za.linkedin.com/in/jakkie-cilliers-a74a9b25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418144201/https://za.linkedin.com/in/jakkie-cilliers-a74a9b25 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=LinkedIn}} The Institute for Security Studies 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.For a complete list of ISS programmes, see [http://www.issafrica.org/programmes.php here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117063219/http://www.issafrica.org/programmes.php |date=17 January 2013 }} Since its inception, the Institute for Security Studies has grown into a pan-African research institution, partnering with the African Union, the East African Community, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Southern African Development Community, and a host of governments, institutions, and organisations throughout the world.

According to its co-founder Jakkie Cilliers, who remains chairperson of the board as of 2023, the ISS (originally IDP) has been funded from its inception by the German Hanns Seidel Foundation, Anglo American Chairman's Fund and De Beers Chairmans Fund. The ISS is now funded largely by foreign governments and organisations; its website lists the following as its major donors: European Union, Government of Denmark, Government of Ireland, Government of the Netherlands, Government of Norway, Government of Sweden, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Open Society Foundations. It also receives project funding from a larger group of donors.

ISS works in the following areas:{{cite web |title=ISS How We Work |url=https://issafrica.org/about-us/how-we-work |website=ISSAfrica |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |access-date=2 May 2023}}

Africa in the world: The ISS analyses dynamics around Africa's global role. It offers advice on global and regional politics, governance and related human security issues. By using research and technical support the ISS assists governments and regional organisations in understanding global influences and responding to challenges.

African futures: The African Futures project is spearheaded by founder, Jakkie Cilliers and aims to use extensive data to build forecasts that help governments and development partners to develop long-term strategies. The full set of analysis and data is presented on a stand-alone [https://futures.issafrica.org website]

Climate change and human security: The ISS examines how climate change and insecurity influence resource conflicts, corruption and organised crime.

Gender equality: Gender equality is a cross-cutting theme for the work of the ISS. The ISS researches and promotes the need for gender equality from an African perspective.

Governance, peace and security: National, regional and continental governance is a key component of ISS' work. The work includes elections and democracy, conflict prevention and management, maritime security and the blue economy, migration and forced displacement, and security and governance of new technology.

National and transnational crime and violence: The ISS researches [https://enactafrica.org/ transnational organised crime], corruption and violent extremism and the links between these. The work includes community conflicts, [https://crimehub.org criminality], inter-personal violence and [https://www.violence-prevention.org/ violence prevention].

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).{{cite web|url=https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CCPCJ/PNI/institutes-ISS.html|title = Institute for Security Studies; Pretoria, South Africa – (ISS)|publisher = United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime|access-date = 19 May 2014}} ISS is also a member of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Crime Justice Network (part of the UNODC).{{cite web|url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ_session23/ECN152014_13_e_V1401242.pdf|title = Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice|publisher = United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime|access-date = 19 May 2014}}

The institute 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.{{cite web |url=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 |title=UNREC SUPPORTS AU 2010 YEAR OF PEACE AND SECURITY PROGRAMME |website=unrec.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001953/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 |archive-date=2016-03-04}} Additionally, the ISS website hosts as a repository for African Union documents, dating back to 1990.The AU Document Repository is found [http://www.issafrica.org/programmes.php here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117063219/http://www.issafrica.org/programmes.php |date=17 January 2013 }}. 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.To access the Peace and Security Council Reports, see this database: http://www.issafrica.org/pgcontent.php?UID=4200 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423120308/http://issafrica.org/pgcontent.php?UID=4200 |date=23 April 2013 }}

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.See the Who Owns What? Database at http://www.ipocafrica.org/index.php?option=com_coi&view=surnamesearch&Itemid=106 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703204130/http://www.ipocafrica.org/index.php?option=com_coi&view=surnamesearch&Itemid=106 |date=3 July 2014 }} The Who Owns What? Database has been used to hold South African politicians accountable for their private interests.Sidimba, Loyiso. [http://www.citypress.co.za/Politics/News/What-do-politicians-own-20110813 What do politicians own?] City Press.South Africa Published: 14 August 2011.

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.African Futures Project site: http://www.issafrica.org/futures/ 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.Africa: Modelling Africa's Future Through the African Futures Project: http://allafrica.com/stories/201203131057.htmlFor a full list of the African Futures Quarterly Policy Briefs, see: http://www.issafrica.org/futures/publications.php {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006215455/http://www.issafrica.org/futures/publications.php |date=6 October 2013 }}

ISS is listed as a prominent organisation in Africa in independent listings.{{cite web|url=http://aros.trustafrica.org/index.php/Institute_for_Security_Studies_%28ISS%29|title = Institute for Security Studies (ISS)|publisher = Trust Africa wiki|access-date = 19 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ethicsa.org/index.php?page=linkspage|title = Useful Links|publisher = Ethics Institute of South Africa|access-date = 19 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.africaportal.org/partner/institute-security-studies?page=12|title = Institute for Security Studies|publisher = Africa Portal|access-date = 19 May 2014}}

The views of ISS staff have been cited and referenced in news stories in the African press, in connection with the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201405141504.html|title = Nigeria Kidnappings – What a Difference a Hashtag Makes|last = Louw-Vaudran|first = Liesl|date = 14 May 2014|access-date = 19 May 2014|publisher = All Africa}}{{cite web|url=http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=12858&page_type=story_detail&category_id=1|title = Who is Boko Haram's radically aggressive leader?|date = 15 May 2014|access-date = 19 May 2014|work = The Namibian}} and in other contexts.{{cite web|url = http://www.citypress.co.za/news/khulubuse-zumas-r100bn-oil-deal/|title = Khulubuse Zuma's R100bn oil deal|last = Pauw|first = Jacques|date = 18 May 2014|access-date = 19 May 2014|work = City Press|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140520112807/http://www.citypress.co.za/news/khulubuse-zumas-r100bn-oil-deal/|archive-date = 20 May 2014|url-status = dead}}{{cite web|url=http://citizen.co.za/178917/torture-thrives-in-africa/|title = Torture thrives in Africa |last = Gibbs|first = JeVanne|date = 17 May 2014|access-date = 19 May 2014|work = The Citizen}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/05/oscar-pistorius-white-fear-factor-south-africa-2014512125441228972.html|title = Oscar Pistorius and the white fear factor. South Africa's crime rate is falling, but the Oscar Pistorius murder trial exposes a lingering fear of 'black crime'.|last = Serino|first = Kenichi|date = 13 May 2014|access-date = 19 May 2014|publisher = Al Jazeera}} It has also been cited in some non-African publications, such as the New York Times,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/world/africa/ancs-stature-wanes-as-disenchantment-grows-in-south-africa.html|title = A.N.C.'s Stature Wanes as Disenchantment Grows in South Africa|last = Cowell|first = Alan|date = 22 April 2014|access-date = 19 May 2014|newspaper = The New York Times}} the Wall Street Journal,{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303802104579448862780458186|title = Zuma Told to Repay Portion of $23 Million Project. Public Protector Calls Upgrades to South African President's Home 'Excessive'|last = McGroarty|first = Patrick|newspaper = The Wall Street Journal|date = 19 March 2014|access-date = 19 May 2014}} and The Economist.{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21560313|title = South Africa: Gang warfare. The government is unsure how to tackle the present plague of gang violence|newspaper = The Economist|date = 11 August 2012|access-date = 19 May 2014}}

• Hanns Seidel Foundation
• Pardee Center for International Futures
• European Union Institute for Security Studies
• Centre for Defence and International Security Studies
• Centre for Democracy and Development
• International Relations and Security Network
• Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA)
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rasr20 The African Security Review]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130423225002/http://issafrica.org/pgcontent.php?UID=3148 ISS Situation Reports]. Provide in-depth analysis and contextual placement on news items across Africa.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130423114517/http://issafrica.org/pgcontent.php?UID=4181 ISS Policy Brief Series]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130423155334/http://issafrica.org/pgcontent.php?UID=1048 ISS Monographs Series]
• Holden, P. & Van Vuuren, H. (2011). The Devil in the Detail: How the Arms Deal Changed Everything. Cape Town, South Africa: Jonathan Ball Publishers.
• Chuter, David. (2011). Governing and Managing the Defence Sector. Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies.
• [http://www.ngopulse.org/article/institute-security-studies-iss-profile ISS Profile from NGO Pulse]
• South Africa: Minister Mthethwa Commends Institute for Security Studies Promotion of Professional Policing – Reward a Cop, Report a Cop:[http://allafrica.com/stories/201109020973.html Published 9/1/2011].

• {{official website|https://issafrica.org/}}
• {{citation |title=Institute for Security Studies | date=4 April 2024 |url= http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Organizations/Detail/?id=96843&lng=en |via=International Relations and Security Network }} (publications fulltext)

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Category:1991 establishments in South Africa

Category:Security studies

Category:Organisations based in Pretoria

Category:Think tanks established in 1991

Category:Think tanks based in South Africa