Instituto de Estudos Estratégicos e Internacionais
From Monitorization of Conflicts in Africa
Location: Lisbon, Portugal Latitude: 38°46′5.103″N
Longitude: 9°10′50.132″W
The Institute for Strategic and International Studies (IEEI), from Portugal, was established in 1980, in Lisbon, as a private non-profit and independent organisation devoted to research and fostering debate on international affairs, defence and security issues. The main objectives of the Institute are the following: a) Develop policy-oriented research on relevant issues of international relations b) Stimulate the domestic debate at the civil society level and foster its participation in, and influence over, the formulation of Portuguese foreign and security policies as well as its inputs to EU policies. c) Contribute at the international level to the development of networks of like-minded research institutes and civil society organisations at the EU level and beyond, which can offer complementary/alternative views to governments and participate in the debate of the main questions affecting the international system.
In its twenty five years of activity, the IEEI has established not only a national but also an international reputation as the leading centre dealing with international relations in Portugal. In Portugal, it has helped establish a previously non-existent tradition of study and debate in this area. It is today able to draw on a growing number of graduates in International Relations from Portuguese universities, which currently make up most of its staff, and started an internship programme in 1994 providing on-the-job training to graduate students. International conferences and smaller workshops have been numerous (on average three or four a year) and attended by leading experts on the field. A policy-oriented institute, the IEEI has sought since its inception to bring together experts and decision-makers, military and diplomats, politicians and journalists, students and business people. This mix of milieus has been consistently maintained over the years, and is one of the reasons for the success of its initiatives and the specific results that have been achieved.
In developing its activities the IEEI follows a set of principles which inspire and give coherence to its projects: a) Multidisciplinary approach trying to understand, and take into account, the interlinkages between economics, politics, security and culture. b) Independent stand, in spite of close relations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, and critical assessment of policies and results. c) Priority to the development of joint projects and building up of international networks rather than working on its own isolated projects. d) Policy-oriented approach aimed at influencing policy design, and active participation in “track two” initiatives. e) Value-driven activity involving the promotion of the values of democracy, human rights and multiculturalism. f) Plural and diversified participation: as a policy-oriented institute, the IEEI has sought since its inception to bring together experts and decision-makers, military and diplomats, politicians and journalists, students and business people. IEEI activities currently combines specific regional topics - Europe, Mediterranean & the Middle East, Southern Africa, Latin America and Asia – with horizontal themes which cut across these areas such as regional integration and co-operation; international and interregional co-operation; foreign, security and defence policies; political transitions and democratisation; security and stability, including conflict management and resolution.
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