About Institute for Strategic Studies

Institute for Strategic Studies (earlier: International Center for Development of Democracy) was founded in 1993 by the Jagiellonian University and Economic Academy in Krakow, Poland.

Today the Institute is a recognized expert institution, which cooperates with a number of other institutions dealing with international affairs and security matters. Institute is a non-profit and non-governmental organization. It conducts interdisciplinary studies examining the most significant issues that Poland and the contemporary world are faced with. We focus on international affairs, paying particular attention to the process of Polish integration into the European Union, European security, Polish Eastern Policy and the regional policy in Central Europe. Among the participants of the programs managed by the Institute are politicians, scholars, journalists, academic circles and business people.

Our partners and sponsors perceived us as a credible institution , supporting our activities from the beginning. In 1999 we became laureate of the Pro Publico Bono competition, organized for non-governmental organizations under the auspices of The Polish Prime Minister. We are closely cooperating with Polish Foreign Ministry, Office of the Committee for European Integration, Council of Europe, NATO Headquarters, the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as with German Marshall Fund and other American foundations. Moreover, as an European partner of the CSIS Center, the Institute conducts a project Action Commission for an Enlarged Euro-Atlantic Community. This initiative is to accelerate and strengthen economic and political transformation in Central and East European countries.

The Institute for Strategic Studies manages three programmes. Within their framework it organizes international conferences, expert seminars and public debates. They stimulate the exchange of experience and ideas between the representatives of Polish and foreign organizations.

Within a short period of time the Foundation managed to mark its place on the map of Polish NGOs and worked out its own methods of implementing its statutory goals. These methods involve international conferences, expert seminars, research and education programmes, and publications.