(New Security Threats Institute – NEST Institute)
NEST Institute is a civic association whose aim is to raise awareness of threats affecting the security of the Slovak Republic and other EU countries. The institute also serves as a platform for research, education, and communication, particularly regarding hybrid threats, as these are crucial to the security of citizens and the preservation of democracy in Slovakia. Its ambition is to propose solutions based on an expert approach, data, and examples of good practices.
Activities
The institute carries out its mission through the following activities:
1) Research, collection, and processing of publicly available data and information related to security threats, especially the following tools of hybrid influence:
- Information operations, disinformation, and propaganda
- Societal polarization
- Misuse of migration
- Election manipulation
- Exploitation of cultural groups and interest associations
2) Analytical, advocacy, and educational activities aimed at various target groups.
3) Publishing analyses, reports, and studies on new security threats, focusing on building societal resilience.
4) Evaluating public policies in the security sector.
5) Organizing conferences and seminars on the topic of new security threats.
6) Providing consulting services on new security threats.
7) Communication activities and campaigns aimed at preventing the negative consequences of security threats.
8) Collaborating with other organizations to identify examples of good practices abroad and proposing their implementation in Slovakia.
Members
The core of the institute consists of former employees of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, who left the ministry after the parliamentary elections in the fall of 2023 due to the lack of interest from the public administration in this issue.
Founding members of the Institute for New Security Threats: Patrik Haburaj, Domicián Zahorjan, Daniel Milo.
