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A comparative counting (lower half of the above matrix) of the fi lled boxes reveals a couple of illustrative associations (“quasicorrelations”)
on an ordinal scale level (sums of ticked boxes):
Both technology-centred and society-centred member state security research programmes clearly tend to focus on preventive
crisis management/disaster prepared¬ness. The association between society-centredness and prevention is however
stronger as compared to technology-centredness and prevention, which are only slightly tighter associated than technologycentredness
and reaction. Society-centred research themes for the slightly most part go together with (international)
standardisation as method of (research programme) governance, whereas technology-centred research themes slightly more
often are associated with (national, interagency) coordination as governance method than with standardisation.
Read the other way round, a coordination approach to security governance goes together with a slightly stronger focus on
reactive crisis management or disaster response, whereas a standardisation approach strongly goes together with prevention/
preparedness. Effi cient reaction to crisis and disaster response as research topics are typically governed by (national) coordination,
so an inter-agency approach is more often applied here than an international standardisation approach. Preventive crisis
management and disaster preparedness obviously are by the majority of the analysed states seen as themes that especially
require internationalization in security research or at lest orientation on common (international) standards. Preparedness thus
has a certain potential of becoming a European security research theme, whereas response will tend to remain a national
security research theme.
10.2.1.7 “Belts” and “Axes” of Security Research Topics
As a further step towards picturing a comprehensive panorama, it can be concluded that there are four bows/belts of European
security research thematic governance emerging: The technology (especially information and communication technology)
bow from Spain to Sweden and Norway, the climate change bow from Spain to the Netherlands, the border security belt from
Spain to France and the transport and supply chain infrastructure protection axis from Germany to Austria. Similarly, Sweden
and Norway could be said to represent a communication infrastructure thematic axis. France and the UK may be seen to
form a conventional threat/violence thematic axis. The southern half (in italics) of the countries addressed in this study rely on
(national, inter-agency) coordination as the primary governance method, whereas the northern half follow an (international)
standardisation approach.
ESRIF FINAL REPORT - PART 2 • Working Group: The governance and coordination