Launched in the fall of 2009, the Institute for Security and Conflict Studies (ISCS) is an energetic academic community dedicated to furthering the study of international security. As our mission, we seek to:
- Advance scholarly research on international conflict and strengthen the field of security studies through graduate education;
- Improve public understanding of key international security issues; and
- Inform policy debates related to U.S. national security.
The Institute boasts an exceptionally strong faculty with diverse research interests within international security studies. Our bi-monthly security policy workshop fosters lively interactions between faculty and graduate students by inviting eminent scholars from GW and other universities to present cutting-edge research. We host visiting scholars from the world’s best universities and offer pre-doctoral fellowships to advanced Ph.D. students through an annual competition. The Institute also houses the Elliott School’s Security Policy Studies M.A. program.
For public outreach, the ISCS sponsors events where policymakers and leading experts debate a variety of international security questions. Our location in downtown Washington, DC provides an ideal platform for disseminating the Institute’s research to a wide audience. ISCS faculty and affiliates also frequently engage the public through op-eds, magazine articles and other media, providing insight on today’s most pressing security issues.
Our Team
Dr. Alexander Downes
Co-Director
Alexander B. Downes (Ph.D., University of Chicago, 2004) is Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the George Washington University.
Downes has published on a variety of subjects in international security, including civilian victimization, foreign-imposed regime change, military effectiveness, democracy, coercion, and solutions to civil wars.
Dr. Charles Glaser
Co-Director
Charles L. Glaser, Ph.D., Harvard University, is Professor of Political Science and International Affairs.
His research focuses on international relations theory and international security policy.
