The Institute for National and International Security (INIS) highlights an important contribution by Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap, one of the editors of the Security Science Journal (SSJ) and the organizer of the Zagreb Security Forum (ZSF).

Prof. Akrap plays an important role in the long-standing institutional cooperation between INIS and the Zagreb Security Forum. INIS is a partner and co-organizer of the Zagreb Security Forum, while the Zagreb Security Forum is a partner and co-organizer of the Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum (BSIF), organized by INIS. This reciprocal partnership represents an important platform for regional and international academic cooperation in the fields of Security Science, Intelligence Studies, hybrid threats, defence, and contemporary security challenges.

In his recent paper, “The Three Seas Initiative: A Geostrategic Framework for a Secure, Resilient and Connected Europe,” published by the European Institute of Romania, Prof. Akrap examines the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) as an emerging geostrategic framework connecting the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Sea regions and contributing to European security and resilience.

His analysis emphasizes that contemporary security can no longer be understood solely through conventional military capabilities. States and societies must be able to protect their physical, digital, and information-cognitive sovereignty, recognize threats, make timely decisions based on reliable information, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain essential functions during crises.

A Significant Proposal for Security and Intelligence Journals

Of particular importance for INIS and the Security Science Journal is Prof. Akrap’s discussion of the future of academic cooperation and scientific publishing in the security field.

Prof. Akrap calls for stronger international cooperation among universities, academies, research institutions, and scientific journals. He advocates joint postgraduate programmes, international exchanges, and research projects connecting civilian and military security, particularly in strengthening societal resilience against hybrid threats and the consequences of new digital technologies.

Most significantly, Prof. Akrap explicitly calls for the development of new and dedicated models for the indexation of scientific journals dealing with Security, Defence, and Intelligence.

He emphasizes the need to:

“develop new models of indexing scientific journals”

deal with the specific scientific fields of “security, defense, intelligence activities.”

This proposal deserves particular attention.

Scientific journals focusing on Security Science and Intelligence Studies operate within highly specialized and interdisciplinary environments. Their research frequently integrates security theory, intelligence analysis, defence studies, geopolitics, technology, cyber security, hybrid threats, critical infrastructure, strategic studies, and other related areas.

Prof. Akrap’s proposal therefore raises an important question for the international academic community: Should Security and Intelligence journals have a dedicated indexation framework capable of recognizing the specific scientific and interdisciplinary characteristics of these fields?

For the Security Science Journal, this is an especially relevant issue, as the journal contributes to the further development and international recognition of Security Science as a distinct scientific field, while simultaneously providing a platform for research in intelligence, national security, defence, hybrid threats, and related disciplines.

From Academic Cooperation to a Wider International Network

Prof. Akrap also emphasizes that the security of the Baltic Sea is directly connected with the security of the Adriatic and Black Seas and argues for stronger links among academic communities as part of building a common strategic culture.

This approach closely corresponds with the cooperation already being developed through the INIS–Zagreb Security Forum partnership.

Through their reciprocal role as partners and co-organizers of the Zagreb Security Forum (ZSF) and the Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum (BSIF), the two organizations are contributing to precisely this type of international academic and professional networking.

Prof. Akrap’s latest contribution adds another important dimension to this cooperation: the need to strengthen not only conferences, research projects, and academic networks, but also scientific journals and their international indexation.

INIS therefore welcomes the opening of this important discussion, particularly the proposal for the development of dedicated indexation models for scientific journals in Security and Intelligence, an issue that could become an important topic for future cooperation among INIS, Security Science Journal, Zagreb Security Forum, and other international partner institutions.