ISF International Security Forum

The International Security Forum 2011 will be convened from 30 May - 1 June 2011 in Zurich by the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich.

We are pleased to announce that Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer will open the International Security Forum 2011 on 30 May at 2:00 PM. Federal Councilor Maurer is the Head of the Swiss Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). He has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council (Swiss government) since December 2008. Read Welcome Address

The ISF 2011 brings together leading international experts and opinion shapers to discuss global and regional security challenges in a comprehensive and multidisciplinary fashion. The core question posed by the ISF is as fundamental as is it challenging: Can the world find a new blueprint towards collective action to resolve global, regional and national challenges, or will shifting power dynamics lead to further fragmentation and malaise? Read Welcome Address

Former Minister of External Relations, Brazil

Former Minister of External Relations Celso Amorim will deliver a keynote address in the plenary session “Power Shifts and International Order” on 1 June.

Celso Amorim served as Minister of External Relations for Brazil in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administrations from 2003 to 2010 and President Itamar Franco’s administration from 1993 to 1994, making him the longest serving foreign minister of Brazil. 

Among his several ambassadorial posts, he served as the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations and other international organizations. He was also the Brazilian ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2001 to 2002. (Picture: © by Edelberto Neto)

Distinguished Professor of International Affairs, US Naval Academy

Ambassador John W Limbert will deliver a keynote address in the plenary session “Power Shifts and Regional Order: Revolts and Revolutions in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula” on 30 May.

John Limbert was appointed Distinguished Professor of International Affairs at the US Naval Academy after retiring from the US Foreign Service with 33 years of service and the rank of Minister-Counselor. While serving as Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, he was one of the first civilian officials to enter Baghdad in April 2003. His overseas experience also included tours in Algeria, Djibouti, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Director of the Middle East Centre and Professor of Middle Eastern Politics and International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK

Fawaz A Gerges will deliver a keynote address in the plenary session "Power Shifts and Regional Order: Revolts and Revolutions in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula" on 30 May.

Fawaz A Gerges is the Director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Professor of Middle Eastern politics and international relations. He earned a doctorate from Oxford University and MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has taught at Oxford, Harvard and Columbia, and was a research scholar at Princeton and chairholder at Sarah Lawrence College, New York.

He is author of several acclaimed books, including Obama and the Middle East: Overcoming the Bitter Inheritance ; The Rise and Fall of Al Qaeda: Debunking the Terrorism Narrative ; The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global ; America and Political Islam: Clash of Cultures or Clash of Interests? ; and The Superpowers and the Middle East: Regional and International Politics .

Director, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin

Volker Perthes will deliver a keynote address in the plenary session “Power Shifts and Regional Order: Revolts and Revolutions in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula” on 30 May and speak at the topic session “Western Security: Lessons, Dynamics, Prospects” on 1 June.

Volker Perthes is the executive chairman and director of German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). He was assistant professor at the American University of Beirut from 1991-1993 and joined SWP in 1992 to head the Research Group "Middle East and Africa." Currently he is professor of Political Science/International Relations at Humboldt University Berlin and Free University of Berlin. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and the Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale in Milan.

Co-Editor of the bitterlemons Family of internet publications and Former Director, Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Tel Aviv University

Yossi Alpher will deliver a keynote address in the plenary session "Power Shifts and Regional Order: Revolts and Revolutions in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula" on 30 May.

Yossi Alpher is a consultant and writer on Israel-related strategic issues, and is co-editor of the bitterlemons family of internet publications. He also writes Hard questions, tough answers  and The strategic interest  for The Forward.

Yossi Alpher serves on the executive committee of the Council for Peace and Security. He was the director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University. Since 1992 he has coordinated several track II dialogues between Israelis and Arabs. During the Camp David talks in July 2000, he served as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel, concentrating on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Former Director of the Indian Intelligence Bureau

Ajit Doval will deliver a keynote address in the plenary session “Power Shifts and International Order” on 1 June.

Mr Ajit Doval is a former Director of the Indian Intelligence Bureau. A veteran with 33 years’ experience in the intelligence profession, he has served in the United Kingdom and Pakistan. An acknowledged expert on counterinsurgency, he serves as an advisor to various Indian policymakers and government agencies. He is an alumnus of the National Defence College in New Delhi and is presently the Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation, a leading security and foreign affairs think tank in New Delhi.