German Society for Security Policy

What German Society for Security Policy does

The German Society for Security Policy (Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik e.V., GSP) is a registered non-profit civic education association founded in 1952 and headquartered in Berlin with a registered office (Geschäftsstelle) in Bonn (Amtsgericht Bonn, Vereinsregister-Nr. 5684). Recognized as gemeinnützig (charitable) by Finanzamt Bonn-Innenstadt, the association's purpose is civilian security policy education and public dialogue across German, European, and transatlantic topics including defense, NATO/EU policy, civil-military cooperation, cyber security, and crisis management. It is led by President Dr. Hans-Peter Bartels and a Bundesvorstand with a Kuratorium advisory board.

The GSP delivers its mission through a decentralized section network of 80+ Sektionen organized into 7 Landesbereiche covering all German states, supported by a small federal staff of approximately 19 employees and a youth wing (Junge GSP). Its content portfolio includes the GSP-Einblick newsletter, the 'Mit Sicherheit Kontrovers' blog, the 'Zeitenwende' podcast on Spotify, a YouTube channel, and active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Flagship events include the annual GSP-Sicherheitsdialog (11th edition scheduled 25 June 2026 in Erfurt) and the Petersberger Gespräche zur Sicherheit (21st edition held 28 March 2026). A new multi-year initiative, the GSP-Projekt Gesamtverteidigung (2026–2030), extends the programme into civil defense and disaster preparedness.

The GSP is sustained by membership fees and donations rather than commercial revenue; entry to most events is free and no commercial pricing model is applied. Distribution relies on direct event attendance, partner co-organization (with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Reservistenverband, Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft, BAKS, SWP, and university partners), and free digital channels. The association does not develop proprietary technology products and has no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or commercial integrations.

Name

German Society for Security Policy

Legal name

Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik e.V.

Website

https://gsp-sipo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The German Society for Security Policy (Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik e.V.) is a 1952-founded, Berlin-headquartered non-profit civic education association running 80+ regional sections across Germany to deliver security policy education through events, publications, podcasts, and a youth wing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The GSP is a non-profit civic education association that delivers security policy education and public dialogue across Germany. Its offerings include flagship conferences (GSP-Sicherheitsdialog, Petersberger Gespräche zur Sicherheit), regional section events in 80+ locations, publications (GSP-EINBLICK newsletter), digital media (Zeitenwende podcast, Mit Sicherheit Kontrovers blog, YouTube channel), and the multi-year GSP-Projekt Gesamtverteidigung (2026-2030) focused on total defense and civil preparedness.

Product overview

The German Society for Security Policy (GSP) is a non-profit association focused on security policy education and discourse in Germany. The organization operates a portfolio of informational products and services including publications (GSP-EINBLICK), podcasts (Zeitenwende), blogs (Mit Sicherheit Kontrovers), and organizes events such as the GSP-Sicherheitsdialog and Petersberger Gespräche zur Sicherheit. Additional initiatives include the multi-year Gesamtverteidigung project addressing civil defense topics. The organization maintains over 80 regional sections across Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GSP Membership Individual membership in the Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik e.V., providing access to events, publications, and the nationwide section network. Sustains the association's operations through membership fees and supports its charitable non-profit mission.
• GSP-Sicherheitsdialog Annual security dialogue conference bringing together security policy experts, policymakers, and military officials. The 11th edition is scheduled for 25 June 2026 in Erfurt; the 10th edition was held 26 June 2025.
• Petersberger Gespräche zur Sicherheit Annual security conference held at the Petersberg bringing together security policy decision-makers, government officials, and experts. The 21st edition was held on 28 March 2026.
• GSP-Projekt Gesamtverteidigung Multi-year project (2026-2030) focused on total defense topics, providing materials and event support for civil defense, crisis management, and disaster preparedness across the GSP section network.
• Junge GSP (Youth Program) Dedicated youth wing of the GSP offering structured security policy education, networking, and engagement opportunities for younger members across the section network.
• Regional Section Events (80+ Sektionen) Decentralized program of expert lectures, panel discussions, study trips, and dialogue formats organized by 80+ regional sections (Sektionen) across all 7 Landesbereiche of Germany.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 sections operating regular security policy events across Germany at any given time
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is the GSP's most prominent and frequent co-organizer of events. The two organizations jointly host the 'Forum Politik & Sicherheit' series, regular Kooperationsveranstaltungen (cooperation events) at the KAS Politisches Bildungsforum Brandenburg, and various panel discussions. The partnership leverages KAS's educational infrastructure and political network to broaden audience reach for security policy dialogue.
• Verband der Reservisten der Deutschen Bundeswehr e.V. (Reservistenverband)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Reservistenverband (Association of Reservists of the German Armed Forces) frequently co-organizes events with GSP sections at the federal and state level. State-level cooperation includes the Landesgruppe Brandenburg and various regional Kreisgruppen. Joint events cover defense topics, total defense (Gesamtverteidigung), and civil-military relations.
• Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft e.V. (DAG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft (German Atlantic Association) participates as a co-organizer in the 'Forum Politik & Sicherheit' series alongside the GSP and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The partnership focuses on transatlantic security topics and NATO-related discussions.
• Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) - Federal Agency for Technical ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GSP-Sektion Halle (Saale) co-organized a Gesamtverteidigung event with the THW on civil defense, resilience, and crisis/catastrophe prevention (Zivilverteidigung – Resilienz, Krisen- und Katastrophenvorsorge), held 28 April 2026 at Konzerthalle Ulrichskirche, Halle.
• Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik (BAKS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BAKS is a key institutional partner in the German security policy landscape. GSP events feature BAKS President (Generalmajor Wolf-Jürgen Stahl) as a speaker, and the two organizations share expertise in security policy education and dialogue. The GSP regularly hosts events at BAKS venues.
• Lehrstuhl Militärgeschichte, Universität PotsdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe professorship for Military History/Cultural History of Violence (Prof. Dr. Sönke Neitzel) at Universität Potsdam co-organizes events with the GSP Potsdam section, including discussions on topics such as the Bundeswehr Traditionserlass (2018) and the European army debate.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWP researchers (e.g., Dr. Paul Joscha Kohlenberg, Forschungsgruppe Asien) have participated as speakers at GSP events, including the November 2018 event on China and the New Silk Road. SWP is Germany's leading foreign and security policy research institute.
• Schools network (Kooperationen mit Schulen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GSP operates a dedicated 'Kooperationen mit Schulen' program under its organizational structure, establishing partnerships with German secondary schools to promote security policy education among young people. This is a structured educational cooperation rather than a commercial partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (DGAP): Berlin-based non-profit that promotes dialogue on foreign and security policy through events, publications, and think-tank research; closely comparable civic-education-and-policy model to GSP.
• Atlantik-Brücke e.V. German non-profit fostering transatlantic relations through events and programs; operates in the same security-policy civic education space with a comparable membership-and-events model.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): Germany's leading foreign and security policy research institute; contributes researchers as speakers to GSP events and operates in the same security policy thought-leadership space with policy analysis and public dialogue.
• Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik (BAKS): Germany's federal security policy academy providing interdisciplinary security education to officials and civilians; operates in the same civic security education space as GSP, often sharing speakers and venues.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS): Major German political foundation co-organizing the Forum Politik & Sicherheit series with GSP; comparable civic education mandate and large network of regional offices and events across Germany.
• Verband der Reservisten der Deutschen Bundeswehr e.V. Germany's official reservist association with nationwide sections co-organizing defense events with GSP; comparable civic-engagement-and-security-education model with overlapping audience of military personnel.
• Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft e.V. (DAG): German non-profit association focused on transatlantic security and NATO-related dialogue; co-organizes the Forum Politik & Sicherheit series with GSP and serves as a direct peer in civic security policy education.
• Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz (MSC): Annual Munich Security Conference convenes global security policymakers; comparable in convening power and security-policy calendar status to GSP's Petersberger Gespr\u00e4che, though at a higher geopolitical level.

Emerging players

• Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit: German political foundation with civic education programs that occasionally engage security policy topics; comparable operational model of regional offices and events, though not a security policy specialist.
• Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK): Frankfurt-based peace and conflict research institute contributing research and commentary on security policy; an adjacent peer in the broader German security-policy thought ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GSPSipo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDCua3OJ65UHU47HaXN8-uw
• Facebookfacebook.com/GSPSipo
• Instagraminstagram.com/gspsipo_berlin/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gesellschaft-f%C3%BCr-sicherheitspolitik-e-v

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about German Society for Security Policy