BIGS staff are currently working on the following research projects:

WISIND – The Security Indicator for Germany

In cooperation with the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) BIGS will develop a system of indicators to measure the level of security and the security industry in Germany. This project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research for 3 years. The Security Indicator for Germany will be constructed by using two composite indicators Security Threats and Security Provision.

The Controversy on Telecommunications Data Retention in Germany – Challenges for Domestic Security Policy Making within a European Framework

Among the pieces of legislation that have been passed in domestic security policy since 9/11, the transformation of the EU Data Retention Directive (2006/24/EG) into German law is one of the most controversial. With 35,000 complaints, the constitutional complaint against this legislation has been the mightiest ever in the entire history of the Federal Republic of Germany.

While the German Constitutional Court ruled the legislation unconstitutional in March 2010, as it saw it conflicting with the freedom of telecommunication, the European Union is urging the German Government to immediately implement the directive.
This project investigates current challenges for domestic security policy making within a European framework using the example of the controversy on the telecommunications data retention. Based on an analysis of selected press commentaries in leading German newspapers on the judgment in March 2010 an exemplary analysis of the media discourse on German domestic security policy will be conducted. In doing so the analysis of the media discourse shall reveal the spectrum of points of criticism and possible solutions linked to the transformation of the European directive.

The Islamic Spring in the Arab World – Opportunities and Challenges for Europe

This project aims to contribute to the current discussion on the dominant role of Islamist parties in the context of the political changes in Egypt and Tunisia. Apart from defining commonly used terminology like Islamism, liberal, secular and democracy, it will be explained why Islamist parties turned out to be victors in the recent elections and which concepts and goals they are pursuing. Of further interest are the initiatives of the German Federal Government, the EU, the G8 and the Worldbank regarding democracy and economic support as well as possible security implications for the European Union. In addition, policy recommendations to the Federal Government and the EU-Commission will be developed.

Provision of air transport capacities for disaster relief – organizational and fiscal approachestransporte

Natural disasters, e.g. the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan again popped up with weak points in the operating processes of disaster relief logistics. As most relief organizations do not own air-crafts air transport services have to be chartered which leads to three main problems as are: incurred by risen demand higher prices have to be paid for air charter services, there is no guaranteed availability of air transport capacities, inappropriate air craft types are used so regional distribution of relief goods is hampered.

The project analyzes how dedicated air transport capacities for disaster relief can be provided and organized other than chartering, i.e. to rather “make” than “buy” to ensure: availability of capacities in a timely manner, accessibility of affected regions (effectiveness), efficiency in delivering relief goods (to save money or to enhance aid).

In the first phase of the project it has been drawn out that a pooling model with a coordinating public authority would bring improvement in the provision of air cargo services for relief organizations. This pooling model works efficiently when capacities are made available for private market demand when there is no demand from relief organizations. Interactions of demand and supply have been analyzed and possible fiscal rules have been derived.

The second phase of the project had an institutional approach asking how this pooling model can be organized which lead to a comparison of organizational models. Currently the model is analyzed with regards to practical demand and feasibility.

Renewable energy and their implications for security

The structure of the renewable energy industry has some similarities with the traditional energy industry. For its development, the presence of technology and labor skills is fundamental, to make the exploitation of energy resources possible. Also at policy level it is in botch case necessary to avoid that energy rents negatively affect the economy at large. This phenomenon is known for what concerns oil and gas rich countries. The thesis of this research project is that “Rent-seeking” problems are possible also with renewables – although only locally. The situation of Brandenburg will be compared with that of the Italian region Apulia.