The Institute for Security Research and Crisis Management at SFU pursues an integrative and holistic strategy of knowledge by aiming to uncover, for example, cultural, systemic, cognitive or psychodynamic structures behind ostensibly material security problems. The focus is therefore not only on objective security (i.e. technical-structural issues), but above all also on subjective security and thus on aspects of the humanities, social sciences and cultural studies, which are becoming increasingly important in security research.

Special emphasis is put on integrating current findings in psychotherapy science, which has established itself as a discipline of its own beyond the immediate therapeutic practice and thereby implies a holistic understanding of the human condition as an interweaving of phenomena from the humanities, social and cultural sciences.

From a psychological and sociological perspective, particular interest is also directed at certain trends and phenomena that do not initially appear to be directly and obviously relevant to security issues, but which can ultimately be decisive for an understanding of the security-relevant social environment. These include, for example, conspiracy theories or changing consumption and lifestyle habits.     

Head of the Institute: Mag.(FH) Dr. Gerd HIESS, BSc MSc, gerd.hiess@sfu.ac.at

Goals

As an academic institution, the Institute for Security Research and Crisis Management pursues the goal of expanding knowledge on this specific subject area, making it accessible and communicating it. This strategic goal is to be achieved through various operational processes:

  • Participating in research tenders on a national and international level
  • Establishing own specialisation directions and expertise in-house, providing retrievable expert knowledge for media work
  • Scientific publications
  • Academic qualification of specialist staff through basic, advanced and further trainings

Contact

Heads of the Institute for Security Research and Crisis Management

Mag.(FH) Dr. Gerd HIESS, BSc MSc, gerd.hiess@sfu.ac.at

Mag. Maximilian Pritz, maximilian.pritz@sfu.ac.at

Clinical Psychology

Nicolas Gyane, MSc., nicolas.gyane@sfu.ac.at

Communications and Sociology

Mag. Dr. Dr. Manuel Jakab, manuel.jakab@sfu.ac.at