cutting-edge research into peace, conflict,
and international security

In our time of rapid change, the risks of major violent conflict are rising. The need to prevent unnecessary human suffering calls for a deeper scholarly understanding of the causes, consequences, and dynamics of violence, and for an elaboration of new measures to foster international cooperation. These are the main goals of our interdisciplinary Center of Excellence, funded by Charles University.

Our Peace Research Center Prague team is comprised of renowned scholars on various topic surrounding international security, such as arms control, nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation or public-elite opinion gaps. We cover the majority of conflict areas around the world, such as Russia and Ukraine, the Middle East or China and Taiwan.

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How has Czech support for Ukraine changed with the new ANO government?
How has Czech support for Ukraine changed with the new ANO government?

A new policy brief by Vojtěch Bahenský analyzes how the new ANO-led Czech government may shift toward more cautious, low-profile support for Ukraine. The document assesses both the political will and the military capacity for any future Czech role in the Multinational Force Ukraine (MFU). The policy brief was published within a project on the MFU by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

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Does public opinion shape elite preferences on nuclear weapon use? New aticle in EJIS
Does public opinion shape elite preferences on nuclear weapon use? New aticle in EJIS

Can public opinion shape elite attitudes toward the use of nuclear weapons? Our new study in EJIS finds that public support increases policymakers’ willingness to endorse nuclear first use. While finding that effects are weaker in retaliation scenarios, the study concludes that sympathetic public opinion strenthens the credibility of third-party nuclear threats.

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New colleagues joining PRCP!
New colleagues joining PRCP!

We are thrilled to welcome Anna Šillerová, Klára Kosová, Tobias Risse and Alžběta Šillerová as new members of our PRCP team! Their research will enable us to broaden our focus into areas such as public discourse and national identity, computational science, individuals’ positions toward foreign and security policy, arms control as well as emerging and disruptive technologies.

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Czech Security Forum 2025: Are we in a new Cold War?
Czech Security Forum 2025: Are we in a new Cold War?

This week, the Czech Security Forum 2025 brought together leading global experts to discuss whether we’ve entered a Second Cold War. Featuring keynote speaker Barry Buzan, the event explored shifting power dynamics, global rivalries, and Czech foreign policy resilience, showcasing the increasing importance of collaboration between academia and foreign & security policy.

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New research on expert-media gaps in perceptions of drone warfare
New research on expert-media gaps in perceptions of drone warfare

Recent war conflicts have ignited discussions amongst both journalists and scholars about the potentially revolutionary effects of drone usage on modern warfare. In his first peer-reviewed study, Ph.D. candidate Zakir Rzazade finds that journalists often portray drones as “revolutionary,” while experts urge caution and remain divided on their true implications for warfare and security.

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20 years later: Was the 2005 Gaza Disengagement a failed peace initiative or a plan maintain control?
20 years later: Was the 2005 Gaza Disengagement a failed peace initiative or a plan maintain control?

Marking 20 years since the 2005 Israel’s Gaza disengagement, Rob Geist Pinfold argues it was never a peace plan but a tactic to freeze negotiations and secure the West Bank. He contends Netanyahu’s later containment policy, not the 2005 withdrawal, set the stage for the October 7th attacks. Read the full paper here.

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TO JE KRIZE III
Dec 18
TO JE KRIZE III

Již třetí edice našeho debatního večera se uskuteční 18. 12. od 18:30 v prostorách Studia Hrdinů. Těšit se můžete na debaty o aktuálních krizích, po kterých bude následovat neformální akce ve stylu vánoční besídky –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ cukroví, koledy, dárky, dobré pití a hlavně vánoční nálada. Předběžně se můžete registrovat zde. Registraci potvrdíme e-mailem.