History & Mission

Who We Are

The Institute of International Relations (IDIS) is a University Research Institute affiliated with Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and operates under the Department of International and European Studies. Maintaining broad administrative and financial autonomy, it plays an active role in advancing the field of International Relations in Greece.

It was founded in 1989 on the initiative of Professor Dimitris Konstas. Since then, it has become a point of reference for research, education, and academic dialogue on international and European affairs, while strengthening partnerships with institutions abroad.

Mission

IDIS aims to:

  • Produce and disseminate high-quality, original research with international impact.
  • Support public policy formulation through evidence-based analysis.
  • Promote academic dialogue in Greece and beyond.

Research Focus

The Institute’s research activity is concentrated in key areas such as:

  • Greek foreign policy and the development of relevant strategic proposals.
  • Analysis of international developments with a focus on geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics.
  • Greece’s position in the European integration process.
  • Theoretical foundations of international political analysis.
  • International law, with particular emphasis on the Law of the Sea, environmental protection, international justice, and human rights.

Education and Academic Support

IDIS contributes to academic development through:

  • Support for the Master’s programs “International Relations and Strategic Studies” and “Strategic Security Studies” (in collaboration with the Hellenic National Defence College – HNDC).
  • A Junior Researcher Program, offering undergraduate and postgraduate students the opportunity to develop their research skills by participating in Institute-led projects.

Educational Programs

To promote continuous learning and outreach, IDIS organizes:

  • Training Seminars on strategy, foreign policy, and global governance.
  • The American Studies Seminar (since 1995), in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy.
  • The Olympia Summer Academy (since 2002), in collaboration with the Navarino Network.
  • The Greek-Turkish Young Leaders Symposium (since 2014).
  • The Thucydides Summer Seminar, focusing on geopolitics and strategy.

Research and Public Policy

IDIS strives to bridge academic research with applied policy by:

  • Organizing the annual Athens Security Forum, in partnership with international research centers.
  • Actively participating in public discourse through articles, analyses, and media interventions.

Public Engagement

With the goal of raising awareness and encouraging public participation:

  • The Institute hosts open events such as seminars, conferences, roundtables, and book presentations.
  • It publishes the “IDIS Library” and “Contemporary East Asia” series, as well as collective volumes, aiming to serve both academic dialogue and public reflection.