HCSS Centre for Strategic Studies

In the News

• Decadence in the West

  Rob de Wijk has written a three part series about decadence in the West.

• The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies advises: ’Pas op de plaats voor Defensie’

  Based on a recent study the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) advises on the subject of the defense budget. To economize on defense means that the Dutch Armed Forces will no longer be able to credibly perform their constitutional functions (protection of interests, promoting and maintaining the international legal order).

• Strategy and Change: A Narrative For The Age of Multipolarity

  The TNO and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) programme Strategy & Change analyses global trends in a dynamic world affecting the foundations of our security, welfare and well-being. The programme attempts to answer the critical question : what are the policies and strategies that must be developed to effectively anticipate on these emerging challenges? Strategy & Change provides both a better understanding and feeds the agenda for a sustainable future of our society.

• Strong in the 21st Century

  Our fascination with the future is only surpassed by the difficulty we experience in preparing for it. ‘’Strategy’’ is supposed to straddle these two important elements. It is about anticipating the future and defining some desired future state.

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• Vacancy Strategic Analyst

  The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
  The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) is a spin-off from TNO and founded in 2007 as an independent think tank. HCSS carries out strategic research in the field of security, sustainability, technological innovation and welfare. HCSS works for and with governments, international organizations and corporations, in doing so HCSS supports and gives advice to officials, political decision makers and members of staff at higher management level.

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• Strategy and Technology 10th-11th June 2010 Singapore

  The HCSS deputy director will train analysts in Singapore on 10 and 11 June 2010.

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• HCSS Partner in the EU Sponsored POLINARES Project

  HCSS is partner in the EU sponsored POLINARES project. POLINARES examines the global challenges faced with respect to access to oil, gas and mineral resources over the next 20 years and proposes solutions for the various policy actors, including the EU. Combined theoretical and empirical analyses will use expertise from a wide rage of disciplines including political science, economics, geology, engineering, technology, law and security studies.

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• University of Edinburgh Operational Adaptation Conference 22-24 June 2010

  In order to better explore the role of adaptation and counter-adaptation in international security issues the University of Edinburgh will host an Operational Adaptation Conference on 22-24 June 2010.

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• Strategy and Change website online

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• 'Strategy & Change' maps the declining competitive position of the Netherlands

  “It is much easier to lose our competitive position in the world than most people realize” (Rob de Wijk, director HCSS)

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• The Global Challenge of Mineral Scarcity

  Conference: Enriching the Planet Empowering Europe Optimising the use of natural resources for a more sustainable economy. A transition to an economy in which energy, food, water and mineral resources are used in a sustainable way so as to protect ecosystems and to combat climate change and loss of biodiversity is perhaps the biggest challenge of our time. HCSS staff members Michel Rademaker and Jaakko Kooroshy published a paper The Global Challenge of Mineral Scarcity for this conference. This essay provides a short overview of key trends in metals demand and supply and discusses the implications of growing metal scarcity for Europe as well as the emerging European policy response.

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• New NATO Research & Techology Game

  As part of the work of a NATO RTO SAS Task Group, HCSS is leading a multinational project assisting TNO in organizing a NATO Disruptive Technology Assessment Game. In the following game a new feature will be introduced. In the week of 12 April this game will be played by military planners, operators, technical analysts, students and extra NGO- participants who will take part in the assessment of future technology solutions. The assessment is about the possible positive and negative effects which conflicts have on stakeholders. Scenarios are played handling a provincial reconstruction team, defending a refugee camp, a non-combatant evacuation operation and the defence of an airport. The participation of the various groups, from seven different countries and multiple institutions, is an attempt for a comprehensive approach in this realm.
  The game will be moderated by Michel Rademaker, study director of the NATO Task Group 082.

• A New Strategic Concept for NATO

  HCSS organized a public debate on the future of NATO. Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen gave a keynote speech. Other speakers were prof. Rob de Wijk, director of HCSS, Jeroen van der Veer, vice-chairman of the Group of Experts who will advise the Secretary General on a New Strategic Concept and dr. Bram Boxhoorn, director of the Atlantic Committee. A debate with members of parliament and guests followed.

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• Social Networking

  New Publication: The Security Shakedown of Shared Information.
  Social networks have emerged as popular Web 2.0 applications with the ability to influence major events. This has profound implications for the security realm. Social networks pose a growing risk to information security. HCSS reviewed the debate within the security foresight community.

• The CBRN landscape

  Navigating the CBRN-landscape of 2010 and beyond. The way in which countries prepare for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) incidents, deserves renewed scrutiny. This report presents the nature and size of CBRN-threats and compares policy approaches.

• Scarcity of Minerals

  This report analyses whether minerals will be scarce in the future and what the security and strategic implications will be. Will states use access to minerals as a strategic resource? Will relations between states change due to scarcity? Will future wars abe fought over minerals rather than oil, territory or water?

• Counterinsurgency and counterterrorism

  What can we learn from counterinsurgency for the purposes of domestic counterterrorism? This question serves as the basis for an HCSS report commissioned by the Netherlands Coordinator for Counterterrorism, NCTb. Please access the report here (Dutch only).

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• Venezuela and Regional Stability

  One of the least recognized neighbours of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is Venezuela. This Hague Strategic Note discusses whether the policies of Hugo Chàvez are a source of regional instability and if they pose a challenge to Dutch interests.

• Threat Analysis Economic Crisis

  In the report Threat Analysis Economic Crisis (in Dutch), the Thinktank National Security provides an update on the consequences of the economic crises for national security and crisismanagement in the Netherlands.

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• Future Issue - The Arctic

  In the past, the vast, mostly frozen ocean that forms the Northern-most region of the globe elicited little attention. This has changed dramatically over the past few years. The strategic importance of the Arctic has suddenly become a hot topic.

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• Futue Issue: Economic Crises

  What impact do economic crises have on security? In this Future Issue, HCSS takes a look at what the scholarly and expert communities think about the consequences of economic crises on international security.

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