It is my privilege to announce and welcome you to the launching series of the Maldives Security Outlook (MSO), an online academic journal for security practitioners, thinkers, writers, and readers, managed and run by the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies (CSSS) at The Maldives National University (MNU). I extend my gratitude and congratulations to MNU, with special thanks to the Marketing team for supporting this process. Congratulations to the authors of the launching series.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr Mahamood Shougee, Chancellor of MNU, to have a chat about MNU’s role in advancing security research and knowledge in the Maldives. Discussing his thoughts on the launching of an academic platform for advancing security and strategic studies in the Maldives, Dr Shougee noted:
The discipline of security and strategic studies is not entirely new to the Maldives. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Maldives Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies are engaged in training and operations related to both internal and external security challenges.
I believe there is a need for an academic institution, such as the Maldives National University (MNU), and law enforcement agencies to collaborate in creating a national framework for security and strategic studies. Such a security framework could focus not just on internal security within the Maldives but also on regional and international issues. For example, our own marine security issues are interrelated to those of our neighbouring countries. Due to its strategically important location in the Indian Ocean, Maldivian security is intrinsically linked to both regional and global security issues.
Regarding MNU’s decision to establish the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies, Chancellor noted:
MNU—as the leading higher education institution in the country—recognises its role in spearheading a national platform of security and strategic studies, a platform for high-quality research, knowledge creation, awareness raising, and training.
The Maldivian economy is based on tourism and ocean resources. Peace, stability, and security are integral to our social and economic development. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has emphasised the role of higher education institutions, research, and evidence-based policymaking for national development. This emphasis of the President on the role of research in policy development inspired the formation of the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies (CSSS) at MNU. The aim of CSSS is to provide a national platform that contributes high-quality research and publications that support policy and strategy development in national security matters.
Integrating security practices and knowledge requires an academic setting. This is especially the case in dealing with multiple impact areas such as health, environment, fishing and food systems. For example, in the maritime security domain, it is not only traditional threats, like state-sponsored military confrontations, that affects our security thinking and policy. A rather complex system of traditional and non-traditional threats affects multiple sectors and sea uses, including fishers and commercial industries. These are interconnected threat areas that traverse multiple national and foreign boundaries. Discussing his thoughts on MNU’s multidisciplinary framework in advancing security discourse, the Chancellor explained:
Security is inherently multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary. For instance, public health, food security, and social security are interconnected. Environmental sustainability and technological advancement are intertwined with economic development and security. Socio-economic stability and national harmony are interlinked to the efforts to counter terrorism.
MNU, an institution that embodies a plethora of interrelated disciplines and expertise, is an ideal setting for CSSS; the academic milieu of MNU fosters cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary, and international collaboration. Thus, being placed within MNU, CSSS is well-positioned to achieve its objective of becoming a truly multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary centre for security and strategic studies.
In an interconnected world, security issues also must be addressed through global partnerships. The Maldives has taken a strategic approach to integrated sectoral knowledge and international best practice. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives depends on sustained collaboration and resource allocation, and MNU’s role can acquire an umbrella function, to drive researchers and policymakers in shaping national and global security dialogues. Finally, discussing his thoughts on future engagements between MNU and security sector agencies globally, Dr Shougee said:
The Maldives is advancing its national interests while contributing to broader geopolitical and international relations dialogues. As the national university, MNU is striving to become an internationally recognised academic institution, offering globally benchmarked programs and research projects. Collaboration with several United Nations agencies, multilateral partners, and reputed foreign universities underscores MNU’s commitment to fostering high-standard academic engagements and recognition internationally. MNU’s researchers engage in regional and international research, seminars, and conferences.
Guided by MNU’s internationalisation strategy, I believe CSSS will facilitate internationally relevant research in collaboration with global partners. Such research would drive policymaking, not just within the Maldives, but also regionally, with global perspectives. CSSS is likely to develop expertise in areas such as maritime, oceans, and environmental security with data analytics. Along the way, CSSS will be supporting the government’s efforts to establish the Maldives as a leading small-state actor in global security affairs.
Under your (Dr. Athaulla A. Rasheed) leadership, and with the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Dr. Shehenaz Adam, I am confident that CSSS will become an internationally recognised centre of excellence for security and strategic studies – one that produces high-quality research, publications, and teaching that are regionally responsive and internationally informed.
There is room to develop the discourse in security and strategic studies in the Maldives. This will happen in collaboration with national security agencies and regional actors. Maldives Security Outlook invites scholars and policymakers to share their experience and expert knowledge in this academic platform and help establish stronger connections between academic discourse, policy and practice in this field. In this launching series, we have introduced MNU and its academic objectives and international perspectives and frameworks from leading experts.
MNU’s role in this will be enhanced by collaboration within the University and with its national and international partners. I look forward to further enhance this. Maldives Security Outlook (MSO) will serve as a starting point.
