Founded by Dr. János Radványi, Professor of History, in 1981, the Center for International Security and Strategic Studies (CISS) at Mississippi State University (MSU) is the only university-based research institute in the Southeastern Region between Atlanta and Austin working on specific international security studies. As a full scale research operation, during its two decades of existence, the Center has become an important arm of the Vice President for Research. It has organized national and international symposiums, workshops, and conferences at Mississippi State University, Jackson and Biloxi, Mississippi, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., as well as in London, Basel, Switzerland, Kyoto, Karuizawa and Niigata, Japan, and Budapest, Hungary. In accordance with its mandate, the CISS is cooperating with university-wide centers, departments, and individual faculty at MSU on projects related to international security issues. Moreover, it offers teaching, public services, and enhances student's interest toward international issues. Last but not least, the CISS is assisting the State''s economic developers and the private sectors in establishing useful contacts with international business leaders.

The Center for International Security and Strategic Studies is a university-based institute, and reports directly to the Vice President for Research at Mississippi State University.  The CISS is receiving major financial support from private foundations, government agencies, and from the Mississippi business community.