The Centre for Gender, Peace and Security (CGPS) brings together the Swedish Defence University's research, education and collaboration within the field of gender, peace and security. The Centre provides an interdisciplinary environment where researchers from different disciplines work together to advance knowledge of how gender shapes defence, crisis management and security.
The Centre builds on the achievements and international networks of the Swedish Defence University's Gender, Peace and Security research group, established in 2019.
Purpose and goal
The Centre creates, collaborates, and cultivates scholarly and policy-oriented feminist research across defence, crisis management and security fields. It organises events in Stockholm, internationally and online, to disseminate and expand knowledge on gendered logics of war, peace and security.
By working with partners in Sweden and internationally, CGPS connects research, education and practice and fosters dialogue across academic, policy and practitioner communities.
The Centre aims to:
- Consolidate interdisciplinary research on gender, peace and security, thereby consolidating the Swedish Defence University's position as one of the leading academic institutions with military affiliations and expertise in the field.
- Support and expand the development of interdisciplinary research on gender, peace and security through a variety of projects, events, and collaborative research funding applications.
- Coordinate and enhance resources for gender-related teaching activities at the Swedish Defence University, including the development of educational materials across civilian and military programs.
- Host international visiting scolars and practitioners for shorter or long-term stays.
- Disseminate expert knowledge to broader society and the defence sector by drawing on and expanding our connections with policymakers, civil society organizations, and multilateral institutions.
Background
Since 2019, the Gender, Peace and Security research group at the Swedish Defence University has gained international recognition for high-quality academic research and has attracted leading gender and security experts as collaborators, speakers and visiting scholars. Its achievements include international awards, external research funding and the appointment of the Swedish Defence University's first Wallenberg Academy Fellow.
The group has also developed an active international research environment, hosting monthly seminars as well as international workshops and conferences. These achievements and established networks provide a strong foundation for the Centre’s continued development.
The full-scale war in Ukraine and intensified preparations for war in Sweden and across Europe have highlighted the importance of gender perspectives in defence, crisis management and security. There is growing demand for the group’s research-based expertise from a wide range of actors, including the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM), the Swedish Armed Forces and their Ukrainian counterparts, civil society organisations in Ukraine, local actors in Sweden and high-level defence forums across Europe and beyond.
At the same time, growing global resistance to gender equality and gender mainstreaming has increased the need for robust expertise grounded in decades of research. CGPS seeks to strengthen, deepen and share the Swedish Defence University’s work in this area.
A key part of the Centre’s mission is to create forums where research and practice can meet, supporting the development of defence, crisis management and security capabilities of the future.
Organisation
The centre was launched on 1 August 2026 and will initially be established for a period of five years. The Director is Annick T.R. Wibben, Professor at the Department of War Studies at the Swedish Defence University.