The Institute of International Relations Prague (IIR) () is a public research institution that produces basic and applied scientific research in the field of international relations. Dr. Mats Braun is the director of the IIR. The founder of the IIR is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (MFA). The activities of the IIR are financed from the government budget for science, research, and innovation of the Czech Republic, on the basis of horizontal cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, from domestic and international projects, and by sales of its publications. The IIR carries out independent research in the public interest.
History
Before 1989 The first suggestion for the foundation of an institution that would engage in research of international relations and work under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appeared very soon after the end of WW2. However, the communist revolution of 1948 stopped any plans for such an institution.DRULÁK, PETR, 1972-. 50 let českého výzkumu mezinárodních vztahů: od ÚMPE k ÚMV. Praha: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů 403 p. Available online. , . OCLC 247489592 Therefore, not such institution was founded until 1957 when the IIR predecessor the Institute for International Politics and Economy was established. The Institute had a seat in one of the Petschke villas in the Prague district Bubeneč and it was later moved to the Lobkowitz Palace in Malá Strana (another Prague district) where it resided until 1970.DRULÁK, PETR, 1972-. 50 let českého výzkumu mezinárodních vztahů: od ÚMPE k ÚMV. Praha: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů 403 p. Dostupné online. , . OCLC 247489592 p. 14-17.
The Institute for International Politics and Economy (Ústav pro mezinárodní politiku ekonomii-ÚMPE) became a significant research institution with a great reputation abroad in a very short time. Its high number of foreign connections, a good overview of the international situation and knowledge of the then current scientific research became very problematic for some of the institute's employees at the end of the 1960s. During the Prague Spring some of the employees of the Institute became an active part of the reforming processes which resulted in the cancellation of the ÚMPE and the dismissal of some of its employees at the beginning of the normalization process in 1970. Some of them later emigrated.
As a replacement for the ÚMPE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechoslovakia founded the Institute of International Relations in 1970.Encyklopedie českých právních dějin. Vydání první. vyd. Plzeň: [s.n.] , . OCLC 953824143 p. 43. The historical building the House of the White Horse which stands in Nerudova street in Malá Strana, became its seat. The IIR has had its seat there up until the present. The greater freedom of society in the second half of the 60s was reduced again by gradually increasing ideological pressure, control, and censorship. Despite this, the IIR still tried to stay in touch with other countries including western countries.DRULÁK, PETR, 1972-. 50 let českého výzkumu mezinárodních vztahů: od ÚMPE k ÚMV. Praha: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů 403 p. , . OCLC 247489592 p. 147-153. At this time the IIR had the best equipped and supplied library in the field of international studies in Czechoslovakia however it was not accessible to public and even the scientists had to have special authorization to read many of the (mostly foreign) publications.DRULÁK, PETR, 1972-. 50 let českého výzkumu mezinárodních vztahů: od ÚMPE k ÚMV. Praha: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů 403 p. Dostupné online. , . OCLC 247489592 p. 147,231.
After 1989 The key changes in the operating of the IIR came after the events of 1989. For the IIR the Velvet Revolution meant not only vast personnel changes but also a journey to becoming a truly independent scientific institution. In the coming years the IIR mainly underwent radical de-ideologization and de-politicization, while there was also a great emphasis on active connections with other countries and making it so that the expertise of the IIR's employees would be as high as possible. Professor Otto Pick, who led the IIR in the years 1994–1998, played a key role in the process of this change.DRULÁK, PETR, 1972-. 50 let českého výzkumu mezinárodních vztahů: od ÚMPE k ÚMV. Praha: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů 403 p. Dostupné online. , . OCLC 247489592 pp. 193 - 207.
On the edge of the millennium, the IIR was definitely already a confident, independent and highly professional institution that contributed to the development of international studies. Together with its newly set goals, the IIR continued in its support of the foreign policy of the newly created Czech Republic. For example, the Diplomatic Academy which was founded in 1997 and serves as a preparatory school for diplomatic workers of the Czech Republic, was part of the IIR for almost ten years. The Development Center was also created under the auspices of the IIR in 2001. This center closely cooperated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding questions of foreign development. In 2007 under the law n. 341/2005 about public research institutions, the IIR was transformed into a public research institution and elements of autonomy were brought into its organization.AION CS-. 341/2005 Sb. Zákon o veřejných výzkumných institucích. Zákony pro lidi [online]. [cit. 2019-10-16]. Dostupné online. (česky) Simultaneously with this institutional change the Diplomatic Academy was incorporated into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in 2007 and the Development Center was transformed into the independent Czech Development Agency in 2008.
Current activities Research The activities of the IIR consist of its independent research and general popularization and educational activities. The IIR, therefore, creates a unique bond between the academic world, the public and the practice of international politics. The key activity of the IIR is independent research in the field of international relations. The research must follow the priorities defined in the Long Term Plan of the Development of the IIR for the years 2023-2027 and it also follows the Conception of Research of the MoFA for the years 2022–2027. The IIR implements two general kinds of research. The first one is elementary, academic research that has theoretical variety and methodological accuracy and whose ambition is visibility on both the domestic scene and abroad. The second one is practically oriented on applied research that utilizes broad knowledge that comes mostly from the IIR's own research and is based on advanced analytical and research methods. This research is mostly used by the MFA but sometimes it is also used by other public institutions.
The research activities of the IIR are run by the research department. The department is divided into five research centers:
The Center for European Politics Investigates processes, institutions, and actors of European politics with a special emphasis on questions of European integration. It deals mostly with processes of integration and differentiation in the European Union as well as the Czech Republic as a part of the EU. Last but not least it examines politics of European states while putting emphasis on their international dimension.
The Center for Global Political Economy Studies the mutual entanglement of political and economic power in international relations, the understanding of which is crucial for strategic decision-making of both state and non-state actors in the contemporary globalized world. The research activity pertains to two related levels: international political economy and global justice.
The Center for International Law Is focused mainly on analysis of the development of international law in connection with new phenomena and trends of the current world such as globalization, migration or the growing meaning of human rights. The emphasis is put especially on problematics of international organizations, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, international human rights law and usage of power in international relations.
The Center for the Study of Global Regions The Center examines the intertwining of political and economic power in international relations, an understanding of which is crucial for strategic decision-making by state and non-state actors in a globalized world. The Center focuses on examining multi-level governance in various global regulatory regimes and changing production and financial relations, including development aid and energy relations.
Centre for Governance of Emerging Technologies The center aims to explore the relationship between technology and international politics. Key research topics now include cyber and space security, with an emphasis on planetary defense, asteroid mining, and the use of high-power lasers for a range of space applications from orbital cleanup to breakthrough interstellar projects.
International cooperation For the purpose of carrying out its research program the IIR internationally networked e.g. in the EU Nonproliferation and Disarmament Consortium, TEPSA (Trans European Policy Studies Association), EPIN (European Policy Institutes Network), the ECPR (European Consortium for Political Research) or EuroMeSCo (Euro-Mediterranean Study Commission). Its foreign partners therefore also include the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), the Korean Institute of Foreign Affairs and International Security (IFANS) and the Austrian Institut für Wissenschaften vom Menschen (IWM). To give an example of the international activities of the IIR we can mention its production of applied research with a regional (especially in projects of the International Visegrad Fund) and a European dimension (e.g. its participation on TEPSA projects for the European Parliament).
Educational and popularization activities One of the elementary goals of the IIR is broadening of the public knowledge about international studies and cultivation and broadening of the horizons of the public debate about international politics in the Czech Republic. For this purpose, the IIR develops many activities, that should target the public as well as experts.
The IIR holds many public events such as panel discussions, lectures or big international conferences that usually focus on relevant international topics and questions that come up in the IIR's own research. The most important conferences are the Prague European Summit (PES), the International Symposium "Czech Foreign Policy" and the Czernin Security Forum which are all held annually. In putting together these conferences the IIR cooperates with important partners such as the MoFA, the Government Office of the Czech Republic, the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, EUROPEUM, PSSI or AMO.
IIR also participates in the education of the students of international studies. It operates as a joint partner in a consortium led by the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University, which implements the academic program European Politics and Society (Erasmus Mundus). Last but not least the IIR offers expert internships to Czech and foreign students and university graduates.
Research workers of the IIR regularly appear in Czech and foreign media. These appearances take the form of interviews or commentaries or analyses. These appearances enables them to publish the results of their own research and professionally narrate and comment on international events. Almost all of the outputs produced by the IIR are also published and made available to the broad public via many communication channels but mainly through social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube).
Publishing activities