Paterson Chair in Security and Intelligence

The Norman McLeod Paterson Chair in Security and Intelligence

The Paterson Chair in Security and Intelligence at Bar-Ilan University is a unique research center of excellence focusing on intelligence, international and internal security, resilience and law enforcement.  As od 2025, It is headed by Dr Barak Bouks (and previously by Prof. Shlomo Shpiro) at the Department of Political Studies.  Its Senior Administrator is Dr. Adi Frimark.  The chair was established in the 1970s through the kind generosity of the Canadian philanthropist Norman McLeod Paterson.

In the field of intelligence research, the Peterson Chair maintains close cooperation with the International Intelligence History Association IIHA - and with research bodies and experts for intelligence research in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Poland and other countries. In 2009 The annual gathering of IIHA took place in Israel together with the Center for the Commemoration of the Martyrs of the Intelligence Community (MLM). Within its framework , doctoral students are guided in the fields of intelligence research. In recent years, the Peterson Chair has also developed close cooperation with the Center for the Research of Intelligence Methodology.

In the field of firearms research, the chair is a unique research and knowledge center in the State of Israel. In 2009, a firearms research team was established under the leadership of Prof. Shapira, in order to promote research in the areas of regulation, legislation and practice in the field of firearms. This area, which includes weapons in the hands of civilians, security and social resilience, is a special challenge for Western democracies. Israel's unique situation due to the constant threat of domestic terrorism has resulted in many legislations and developments in the field of firearms regulation. The first study conducted by this research team examined the place of an armed citizen in the fabric of internal security and terrorism prevention in Israel. The results of the research were presented to government ministries, the Israel Police and civilian security bodies, as well as to the 'Ronen Committee' which reviewed the firearms and security licensing policy in Israel.

In 2013, Prof. Shapira and Bar-Ilan University were chosen by the Ministry of Internal Security to lead the process of preparing the new Firearms Law, a process that the Peterson Chair led for about four years and included consultations and joint work with dozens of entities concerned with the matter, including government ministries, security agencies, public authorities and the sector the private. The Peterson Chair has established a database that includes international legislation in the fields of firearms and we work together with experts all over Europe in this field of research. In recent years, the cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Security has been tightened and the department has conducted several studies with the Ministry in the field of firearms.

The chair collaborates with the Europe Institute and in recent years has participated in organizing a series of conferences and workshops under the title 'The European Roundtable' in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Israel. The Peterson Chair participates every year in a large number of international conferences. This activity continued even during the Corona period through digital participation. One of the studies conducted during the Corona epidemic examined the roles and performance of Israel's intelligence services in handling the Corona crisis.