INEF research can be classified into the following three main areas: analysing processes of globalisation and related questions of governance, the examination of violent conflicts and instruments of peaceful conflict management and issues of international development and human rights policies. Above all, societies in transition and fragile states are the main focus of investigation. Furthermore a particular interest of INEF research addresses the role of private actors.

Research at INEF is organised along three research areas. Each project is assigned to one of the research areas: