CPD Policy Blog

CPD Policy Blog

Linking academia and policy. Contributing to social progress. Enabling sustainable politics. Connecting the dots. Thinking ahead.
Cooperation
The CPD Policy Blog is a project of the Austrian Conflict, Peace and Democracy Cluster (CPDC) and is supported by the University of Graz, Institut für Konfliktforschung (IKF), Demokratiezentrum Wien, ASPR as well as Shabka.
Research
Peace and conflict research deals with violence and violent conflicts in the broadest sense. It thus seeks to formulate strategies to overcome these forms of violence in the short, medium and long term.
CPD Cluster
The CPD Cluster seeks to bundle the competence existing in Austria in the areas of conflict, peace & democracy. It thus contributes to the peaceful, non-violent and non-discriminatory development of society.

Focus Topic

Si vis Pacem, Para Bellum: How Much Violence Does Peace Need?

This blog series examines the paradoxical relationship between peace and violence in contemporary international security, as captured by the maxim “si vis pacem, para bellum.” It explores why military force is widely framed as a prerequisite for stability across state security strategies, alliances, and UN peace operations, while non-violent approaches are often dismissed as unrealistic.
Security Through Accountability: A Case for Institutional Reform
Security Through Accountability: A Case for Institutional Reform
The security policy debate is dominated by two main positions. One argues that military strength creates stable peace through deterrence. The other considers the use...
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Si vis bellum, armabis te. War and Arms Build-Up
Si vis bellum, armabis te. War and Arms Build-Up
Global military spending has tripled since the beginning of the century to around three trillion dollars in 2025. Arms control treaties, such as those on...
Read More "Si vis bellum, armabis te. War and Arms Build-Up"