A meeting of members of the team of authors and the International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook took place at MGIMO University

MOSCOW. DECEMBER 22, 2023. PIR PRESS. «We would like to discuss the results of cooperation with PIR Center under the auspices of the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program and hear a report on the completion of the preparation of the Security Index Yearbook. I have had the opportunity to read the Yearbook project. In my view, the work done is very interesting and thorough. Moreover, in the current situation, materials based on our domestic observations and analysis are of particular interest and will be in demand worldwide. In addition to the Yearbook, over the past few months, several analytical reports have been prepared jointly with PIR Center, which we plan to submit to government structures and research centers. At MGIMO University, we intend to continue actively cooperating with PIR Center, including through the Institute of International Studies, achieving synergy, preparing joint materials, both commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and initiative ones. As you know, we have a cooperation agreement with PIR Center. It is a respected brand. We have been collaborating productively for many years, even before the agreement. But now this cooperation is strengthened because it has been translated into a more solid, legally sustainable format. I am confident that this collaboration will benefit both PIR Center and MGIMO University», — Dr. Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO University and Chairman of the International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook.

On December 19, 2023, a meeting of members of the team of authors and the International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook took place at MGIMO University. The preparation of the Yearbook is carried out within the framework of the joint project of PIR Center and MGIMO University Global Security, Strategic Stability, and Arms Control (a strategic project Global Studies for a Global Russia under the auspices of the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program). 

The participants of the meeting were welcomed by Dr. Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO University and Chairman of the International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook. He emphasized the thorough nature of the Yearbook and the works collected in it, highlighting possible formats for its promotion. He also noted the high quality of analytical materials prepared by PIR Center in collaboration with MGIMO University dedicated to the high-tech development of states in the Persian Gulf and Sub-Saharan Africa.

During his presentation, Dr. Vladimir Orlov, PIR Center Founding Director, Professor at MGIMO University and Chief Editor of the Security Index Yearbook, reported on the results of its preparation and the achieved results of the formation of the author’s team and the International Editorial Board.

“We’re making an export-oriented product. A serious one. Profound. Innovative. 28 chapters. 31 authors, most of whom are here in this hall right now. The goal is to give foreign countries an opportunity to learn about the views of Russian experts — to hear voices from Russia. They are now being crowded out or are not yet being promoted systematically enough. What I have always found it interesting and successful to do together with MGIMO University is to combine experience and youth. Most of the authors of the Yearbook are distinguished and experienced people from the Russian expert community specializing in various aspects of international and national security. However, we have tried to give young people, primarily MGIMO University graduates, the opportunity to do interviews, prepare publications, reviews of books published in Russia over the past two years in English. It is important to show the world that our scientific elevators work continuously and that we ensure generational continuity, the transfer of experience. There is much to be proud of. And there are prospects for the coming years, which PIR Center is happy to implement together with my alma mater — MGIMO University”, — said Dr. Vladimir Orlov.

The working meeting was attended by members of the author’s team and the International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook, as well as special guests from MGIMO University. During a special Q&A session, they discussed the preparation, publication, and distribution of the Yearbook on Russian and international platforms.

The Yearbook is intended for the foreign expert community; decision-makers in other states; young international affairs specialists and students from all over the world who are engaged in and interested in Russia and international security issues in general. It will be published in paper and digital formats in English at a time when the demand for understanding Russian views on various international issues and, most importantly, Russian foreign policy behaviour is greater than ever, no matter what country in the world we are looking at.

The Yearbook brings together under its cover authoritative Russian experts — leading theorists and practitioners in the field of international relations, global and regional security. Among them are, in particular, Dr. Irina Abramova, member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Dr. Andrey Baykov, Vice President for Research at MGIMO University, member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Kirill Barsky, Head of the Department of Diplomacy at MGIMO University, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary; Dr. Vyacheslav Belokrenitsky, Professor of the Oriental Studies Department at MGIMO University; Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev, Professor of the Department of Theory of Law and State at Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN); Dr. Vasily Kashin, Director of the Department of World Economy and World Politics at HSE University; Dr. Andrey Kortunov, Academic Director of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Mr. Vladimir Ladanov, Head of the South Pacific Section of the Third Department of Asia at the Russian Foreign Ministry; Dr. Mikhail Lysenko, Deputy Director of the Department of International Law at MGIMO University, member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Andrey Malov, member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Ruslan Mamedov, Research Director of the Primakov Center for International Cooperation, Senior Researcher at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Mr. Adlan Margoev, Research Fellow at the Center for Middle East and African Studies of the Institute of International Studies of MGIMO University; Dr. Boris Martynov, professor at the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Russia of MGIMO University; Mr. Nikita Neklyudov, Deputy Dean for Master’s Programs at the School of International Relations of MGIMO University; Dr. Vladimir Orlov, PIR Center Founding Director, Professor at MGIMO University; Dr. Dmitry Polikanov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo; H.E. Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Mr. Dmitry Stefanovich, Research Fellow at the Sector for Military Economics and Innovation of the Center for International Security at IMEMO RAS, member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Maxim Suchkov, Director of the Institute of International Studies at MGIMO University; Dr. Dmitry Trenin, Senior Research Fellow at the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Sector of the Center for International Security of IMEMO RAS, Research Professor at HSE University, member of PIR Center Executive Board; Dr. Alexey Ubeev, Former Chief Specialist of the IAEA Nuclear Security Office(2011-2015), member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Elena Chernenko, Special Correspondent of the Kommersant Daily, member of PIR Center Executive Board, and many others. Thanks to their knowledge and experience, one of the distinctive features of the Yearbook is its its weighted, balanced, diverse views and approaches.

“We have a bright team of authors. When preparing the avant-première of the Yearbook, my colleagues and I proceeded from the fact that it is very important to ensure a balance between journalism and science, to give priority to strategic vision rather than tactical comments. This was a key orientation for all of us, both for the editorial team and the authors. We look forward to the moment when readers around the world will have the first issue of the Yearbook in their hands. We are confident that it will enable every reader to find answers to questions about how to better understand each other and overcome contradictions, primarily through joint efforts to address common challenges and threats in the field of global and regional security,” — notes Ms. Elena Karnaukhova, PIR Center Deputy Director-Education & Training Program Director, Executive Editor of the Security Index Yearbook.

The formation of the International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook is ongoing. At this stage, it has already included: Dr. Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO University, Chairman of the International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook; Dr. Vladimir Orlov, PIR Center Founding Director, Professor at MGIMO University, Chief Editor of the Security Index Yearbook; Ms. Elena Karnaukhova, PIR Center Deputy Director-Education & Training Program Director, Executive Editor of the Security Index Yearbook; Dr. Andrey Baykov, Vice President for Research at MGIMO University, member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Sergey Brilev, President of the Global Energy Association; Lieutenant General (ret.) Evgeny Buzhinsky, PIR Center Executive Board Chairman; Dr. Venkatesh Varma Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to the Russian Federation in 2018-2021, distinguished fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation, visiting faculty of Kautilya School of Public Policy, member of PIR Center Advisory Board (India); Amb. Sergio Duarte, career diplomat of Brazil, former President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, member of PIR Center Advisory Board (Brazil); Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev, Professor of the Department of Theory of Law and State at Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN); Dr. Mikhail Margelov, Vice President of the Russian International Affairs Council, member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Vitaly Naumkin, Academic Advisor of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Dmitry Polikanov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo; Dr. Tariq Rauf, Former Head of Verification and Security Policy Coordination Department at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), member of PIR Center Advisory Board (Austria/Canada); Dr. Ivan Safranchuk, Director and Leading Researcher at the Center for Euro-Asian Studies at the Institute of International Studies at MGIMO University, member of PIR Center Advisory Board.

The release and launch of the Security Index Yearbook in Russia and in various parts of the world are planned for the first half of 2024.

For questions related to the Security Index Yearbook, please contact Ms. Elena Karnaukhova, PIR Center Deputy Director-Education & Training Program Director, Executive Editor of the Security Index Yearbook, via edu@pircenter.org.

Key words: Global Security; Nuclear Nonproliferation 

GRS/SIY