CICS is developing a research and policy profile in the area of elections, peace-building and democratization. Key areas of research include Sierra Leone, the Caucuses, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin and Central America, Nepla, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Malcolm Chalmers and Owen Greene have co-directed an internationally known ‘Bradford Arms Register Studies’ (BARS) project on regional and international transparency and confidence-building measures for conventional arms. A particular focus for this project is the development, implementation and significance of the UN Register for Conventional Arms – still the main global co-operative agreement on conventional arms. Funded largely by the Ford Foundation, this project has involved many research publications as well as close engagement with the UN and many governments, regional organisations and NGOs across the world. A substantial BARS report on the recent development and operation of the UN Register is forthcoming. Work continues on arms information exchange and consultation mechanisms in the OSCE, Balkans, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.