Research
The core of the NSSC research consists of a number of exclusive studies that examine the ability of the Israeli society to cope with the state’s national security challenges. The most prominent project is an ongoing, systematic in-depth study, examining various aspects of Israel's national resilience. The study brings together extensive data concerning patriotism, optimism, fear, militancy and trust in Israel’s institutions, to construct an index of Israel’s national resilience. The cumulative contribution of these data and insights for over a dozen years, provides a rare opportunity to systematically follow the long term trends of Israel’s society coping with the threats and challenges to its national security. In addition to this major project, the NSSC also conducted more focused studies on related issues, including political extremism and patterns of coping with terrorism, examining the tension between Israel’s unique security needs and the constraints embedded in its open society characteristics. The products of the national resilience and political extremism studies were recently published by leading academic publishers.
Contribution to Strategic and Public Discourse
For over a decade the NSSC and its researchers have contributed significantly to the strategic and public discourse on national security in Israel, by way of direct contacts with decision makers, senior officials and public opinion leaders, as well as through professional simulations, large scale public seminars and media exposure. The findings of the studies conducted at the NSSC, primarily those relating to national resilience, are presented annually to Israeli and foreign decision-makers, officials, academics and experts, generating extensive discussions concerning their policy relevance.
Cooperation with Foreign National Security Establishments
The NSSC strives to develop and cultivate cooperation with national security establishments, as well as with senior government officials, in America, Europe, Asia and the Arab world. This includes professional visits, lectures and longstanding teaching by senior NSSC members at research centers and governmental institutions abroad, as well as hosting leading experts and directors of national security institutions in Israel, introducing them to senior officials in the defense, foreign relations and economy establishments. NSSC contacts in the Arab World include meetings with senior government officials and public figures (recently in Qatar and Jordan), as well as regular meetings in Europe, twice a year, which bring together hundreds of prominent participants from Arab countries and Iran, including many of the instigators of the latest dramatic changes in the region (the “Arab Spring"). In addition the NSSC closely works with ambassadors, security and military attaches and senior diplomats accredited to Israel, briefing them about the Middle East and Israeli society and introducing them to the findings of the Center’s research projects.
Training Senior Officials of Israel’s Defense and Foreign Policy Establishment
Since its establishment, the NSSC has been working closely with the National Security Studies Program headed by Prof. Ben-Dor (who is also a senior researcher at the NSSC and heads the national resilience study). Students from the program, in particular at the senior level, including students from the National Security College participate in a variety of NSSC forums and are exposed to the products of the Center’s research. Many of those went on to hold senior positions in the Israeli defense and in foreign affairs establishments, including a Defense Minister, Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs of the IDF General Staff, Major Generals, Ambassadors and heads of divisions.