ENSURE in a nutshell
We live in times of profound geopolitical upheaval, characterised by a high degree of unpredictability and uncertainty, both in terms of events and knowledge. The Max Planck Research Group ENSURE (European Security Revisited) seeks to address this uncertainty through evidence-based and independent research. The independent W2-group, which consists of nine team members with different national backgrounds and academic training, is led by Dr. Carolyn Moser and funded by the Max Planck Society (2022–2027).
ENSURE examines how European democracies can navigate the substantial changes they are experiencing in the area of security and defence, not least since the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022.
Indicative of the shifting paradigm is, inter alia, the considerable increase in defence spending across Europe. Many countries, such as Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, have also fundamentally revised their security and defence policy priorities and strategies. Likewise, Germany is attempting to address many pressing defence issues under the “Zeitenwende” topos. These changes, significant in breadth and depth, are at ENSURE’s centre of attention. The research group unpacks ongoing fundamental adjustments in law and governance. It uses its expertise to develop suitable analytical concepts and provide academically grounded guidance on how to overcome contemporary challenges and adapt to the new realities, while sticking to core (constitutionally) enshrined values and principles.