The SRSI was founded as a response to a number of considerations. The growing complexity of security related problems in today’s network society, has resulted in a growing number of universities to research in, and to start courses on, security related subjects. However, both research and courses have been located within previously established faculties and departments. As yet, security lacks a body of knowledge coherent enough to make it a discipline in its own right. Security remains, therefore, an attached bonus to courses in criminology, engineering, law, media, management, and so on.

This situation raises two fundamental dangers. The first concerns the danger of conditioning the growth of security, by emphasising some of its aspects to detriment of others, simply because the researcher is based within a particular branch of academia. Until security can be properly defined, the research strategy has, therefore, to be multidisciplinary. The second danger, related to the first, is for this asymmetric growth of security to be influenced not just by casual positioning, but by specific interests. Security, therefore, as a way to justify and support adjacent subjects. Research in security should then be independent.

Within the SRSI the focus is on multidisciplinary research. To exist, however, debate is of paramount importance. The Institute independence will then ensure and facilitate this debate, by allowing for timely dissemination of ideas and problems.

In order to facilitate the debate and the building of a coherent body of knowledge, the SRSI has decided for two separate series of papers. The Study Papers are intended as a quick route to confront ideas and test arguments, as well as study aids and sources for discussion. The Research Papers, instead, are intended as a slightly less quick route to publish topical but robust arguments which must have passed the scrutiny of blind referees.

Originality and a dose of irreverent controversy are essential ingredients of both series. Prejudices and commonplaces must be identified and challenged. New ideas must be allowed to circulate so that the challenges that the very reason for the founding of the SRSI may be met.

As the two series will develop, some particular subject areas will hopefully emerge, defining the boundaries of the concept Security. Once these will become clear, it is in the intention of the SRSI to bring together the best of the Study and the Research Papers within a third series of collection of papers.

The SRSI also intends to prepare and publish a number of textbooks and manuals at academic and operational level.

Study Papers, Research Papers and Textbooks will become available in due course. For more informations on how to order them or on how to get involved and publish with the SRSI, please contact us at info@srsi.org.