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The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) is a think-tank organization founded on 22 July 1997. Its areas of expertise include defence and security, the functioning of democracy and the rule of law, European integration, foreign policy and geopolitical processes, social activism, and human rights. BCSP's goal is to explore the essential socio-political processes in Serbia and the region and offer solutions for their improvement.

Since 2012, it has been on The Global Go To Think Tank Index – a ranking list of research centres as the best-rated Western Balkans think tank in the field of defence and national security, as well as in the field of foreign policy and international relations.

Mission
The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) is a think-tank that contributes to advancing the security of people in accordance with democratic principles and respect for human rights through research, public advocacy, community development, and education.

Vision
A democratic society overseen by accountable institutions, in which security is a public good and people are free, equal, and free from fear.

Strategic priorities
Strategic priorities of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy are:


 * 1) Providing evidence-based policy opinions, advice, and information that will lead to further European security architecture, democratic governance of the security sector, and foreign policy which is based on the European Union's core values and principles,
 * 2) Supporting the development of civil society organizations and advocates of change to create an environment for more transparent, accountable, and responsive state institutions in the country,
 * 3) Providing analysis in the area of security, the rule of law, and foreign and defense policy of Serbia for domestic, foreign, and international decision-makers, journalists, students, and the interested public,
 * 4) Education of democratic leaders in the areas of security, human rights, foreign policy, and their engagement in the foreign, defense, and security community of the European Union,
 * 5) Supporting human rights activists, freedom fighters, and whistleblowers to encourage their mission and increase the democratic capacities of the whole society.

The BCSP team
The BCSP team consists of 21 people. It comprises young, highly educated researchers with an average work experience of 5 to 10 years. Their findings have been published in the New York Times, Foreign Policy , War on the Rocks , etc. The Director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy is Igor Bandović.

BCSP development
The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) was established on 22 July 1997 as the Centre for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR), with a mission to promote the democratisation of the security sector in Serbia. Once the democratic changes came about (2000), the focus of the organisation's work shifted to include a broader understanding of security. In 2010 CCMR changed its name to Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.

In the period 1997-2022, BCSP evaluated the success of security sector reform in Serbia by using the innovative methodology, conducted specialized public opinion polls on foreign and security policy, conducted in-depth research on the private security sector, and was the first to warn of the state capture in Serbia and documented the role of the security sector in that process. BCSP highlighted important issues that Serbia has been facing for years, such as extremism, violence, and organized crime, and warned about the poor management of the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions of the institutions during the state of emergency.

By expanding the scope of its work and the network of partners, BCSP began to deal more intensively with regional policies and opened new areas of work, such as foreign policy and cyber security. In 2022, BCSP established the International Advisory Committee (IAC), which consists of 16 experts in international relations, defense, security, and the rule of law. The goal of the Committee is to become the hub of ideas and seek answers to the growing challenges facing the Western Balkans and provide quality proposals for alternative policies.

BCSP is the organizer of the Belgrade Security Conference (BSC), an international conference on foreign policy and security. The BSC is a continuation of the Belgrade Security Forum – a conference on foreign and security policy that BCSP co-organized for 11 consecutive years (2011-2021).

BCSP is the coordinator of the Working Group for Chapter 24 of the National Convention on the European Union. BCSP coordinates the work of the prEUgovor coalition, which monitors the implementation of policies in the areas of Judiciary and fundamental rights (Chapter 23) and Justice, Freedom, and Security (Chapter 24) and proposes measures to improve the situation.

BCSP is the initiator and co-publisher of the Journal of Regional Security.

In April 2020, the BCSP established the Civic Committee for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Whistleblowers as a form of support for activists and whistleblowers who call for the accountability of institutions and officials and suffer certain pressures and consequences.

Community building and education
In 2006, BCSP formed a specialized research unit – the Belgrade School for Security Studies, gathering young researchers interested in security. The expansion of the security research community continued through the internship program for foreign and domestic students and researchers, which was launched in 2007. Over 200 domestic and around 30 foreign interns have acquired knowledge in the field of security and foreign policy and practical skills needed for work in a think tank.

Since 1997, the BCSP has been a member of over 20 coalitions and initiatives at the national and international level and has cooperated with over 60 partner organizations in Serbia, Europe, and the world.

Funding
BCSP is funded by projects. The organization adheres to the principles of transparency and accountability in its activities. As such, financial reports of the organization and lists of projects and donors are available on the organization's website.