Centre for Security and Strategic Research

The National Defence Academy of Latvia (NDAL) Centre for Security and Strategic Research (CSSR) was established in 1992 as a part of the NDAL. The original title of CSSR was Defence Scientific Research Centre. Since September 2012, CSSR was reformed with changes in personnel and operating principles. The Center was renamed Center for Security and Strategic Research in 2014. The mission of CSSR is to ensure the development of security and defense policy research as well as to raise the public awareness about these issues in Latvia.

The main tasks of the CSSR are as follows:

1. researching security and defense issues and formulating policy recommendations;
2. analyzing the development of the Latvian National Armed Forces;
3. integrating in internationally recognized academic and research environment;
4. organizing public events (seminars, discussions, conferences) to increase public awareness about the security and defense issues in Latvia;
5. creating and maintaining progressive, viable and vibrant academic environment in the NDAL in order to ensure the development of the Academy and favorable environment for the educational process of the Latvian armed forces officer corps.

Research directions and competences

CSSR is both an academic institution and a think tank. Also, CSSR researchers are contributing to the study process at the LNDA by teaching study courses and supervising cadets’ research projects. The main research areas covered by the team of CSSR researchers are as follows: 

Deterrence, state intentions, Latvia’s foreign and security policies, power in international relations, Russia’s new generation (hybrid) warfare, Russian military thought, geopolitics, defence economics, comprehensive state defence, patriotism, strategic communication, Russia’s strategy and communication, Transatlantic relations, European security.

Research projects and achievements

CSSR is a research institute that is fully funded by the Latvian Ministry of Defence (MOD). This means that CSSR cannot apply for additional research funding in Latvia or abroad. Also, part of research conducted by CSSR is done on requests from the Latvian MOD and LNAF and is not available to wider public. However, CSSR researchers can participate in research projects by Latvian and foreign-based research institutions on an individual basis. Over time, CSSR has developed close links with defence/military academies and research institutions dealing with security and defence issues from the Baltic Sea region.

Infrastructure

CSSR is fully integrated in LNDA. Thus, CSSR is provided office space and equipment that is needed for research purposes. All CSSR researchers have fully equipped office space and access to the library of LNDA, including electronic access to academic journals and e-books, as well as library collection. CSSR academic staff has funding provided by LNAF to attend conferences and workshops abroad. For research purposes, CSSR has access to expertise that has been accumulated in the LNAF. Administrative functions are handled by the administrative assistant and, where necessary, by other administrative staff at the LNDA.

Leading researchers:

1. Toms Rostoks, PhD, ORCID - 0000-0001-9758-5866
2. Ieva Bērziņa, PhD, ORCID – 0000-0003-2199-8212
3. Jānis Bērziņš, PhD, ORCID – 0000-0002-2406-0265
4. Sandis Šrāders, PhD, ORCID - 0000-0003-1082-7178
5. Ilona Baumane-Vītoliņa, PhD, ORCID – 0000-0002-2744-8732

More information: www.naa.mil.lv/en/research