The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

HCSS conducts research on geopolitical and defence & security issues for governments, international institutions and businesses. Our research is characterized by a datadriven, multidisciplinary approach, specialist knowledge and a strategic orientation.

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Latest Research

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Robotic and Autonomous Systems: From design to development and use in military operations
Though long seen as the future of warfare, the application of Robots and Autonomous Systems (RAS) is relatively new and experimental in most militaries, including in the Dutch Armed Forces. In 2018, the Royal Netherlands Army established an experimental unit to explore the use of RAS and research key topics on the application of such systems by militaries. This article is a summary of the army's Concept Development & Experimentation (CD&E) plan and its research on RAS for Military use.

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The EU Taxonomy explained
The EU taxonomy for sustainable activities is a vital instrument in implementing the Green Deal. By establishing a common framework for identifying sustainable activities, the taxonomy can facilitate the scale-up and acceleration of green investments. This short explainer sheds light on the purpose and structure of the EU Taxonomy, and provides concrete examples of economic activities that make a substantial contribution to the six environmental objectives.

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Position Paper: Chips, kritieke grondstoffen en Nederlands-Europese economische veiligheid
HCSS China analist Joris Teer spreekt op 19 oktober bij de China Ronde Tafel van Commissie Buitenlandse Zaken van de Tweede Kamer, waar deze position paper zal worden behandeld.

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The Hydrogen Accelerator Workshop | HCSS, VOTOB & VNO-NCW
Green hydrogen is one of the key energy sources that will enable the Netherlands to reach net zero by 2050. In October 2022, VOTOB, HCSS and VNO-NCW brought together stakeholders of the emerging hydrogen supply chains. The Hydrogen Accelerator workshop aimed to facilitate dialogue and to speed up action.

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De Nationale Politie, gezagdragers en de wijkagent
Het gebiedsgebonden werken komt bij de Nationale Politie steeds meer ter discussie te staan. Een belangrijke reden is dat lokale gezagdragers zich hebben moeten schikken naar de eisen die het beheer stelt, terwijl normaliter het beheer het gezag volgt. Daarnaast is er een structureel tekort aan wijkagenten. Beide kunnen het vertrouwen in de democratische rechtstaat ondermijnen. Deze notitie door Pieter van Vollenhoven pleit daarom voor een versterking van het gezag en de zichtbaarheid van de politie in de wijk.

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Global Center on Adaptation | State and Trends in Adaptation Report 2022
The Global Center on Adaptation "State and Trends in Adaptation Report 2022" offers comprehensive recommendations for action, based on new evidence that Africa faces a serious shortfall in funding for climate adaptation, even as costs of delayed action rise. HCSS senior strategic analyst Laura Birkman contributed to the report, as co-author of the Security chapter.

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THeMIS firing, the UGV is armed with a .50 machine gun. Action photo taken during the live fire exercise in Bergen-Hohne, 2022.

November 29, 2022

Robotic and Autonomous Systems: From design to development and use in military operations

November 28, 2022

The EU Taxonomy explained

November 24, 2022

Position Paper: Chips, kritieke grondstoffen en Nederlands-Europese economische veiligheid

November 15, 2022

The Hydrogen Accelerator Workshop | HCSS, VOTOB & VNO-NCW

November 14, 2022

De Nationale Politie, gezagdragers en de wijkagent

November 11, 2022

Global Center on Adaptation | State and Trends in Adaptation Report 2022

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Europe in the Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the new epicentre of geopolitical competition. Europe has begun its own tilt towards the Indo-Pacific, yet it remains unclear what specific role Europeans should play. The HCSS “Europe in the Indo-Pacific Hub (EIPH)” brings together scholars, experts and practitioners across Europe, Asia, as well as East-Africa and the US.

Latest Research

October 24, 2022

Factsheet | Westerse Aanwezigheid in de Asia-Pacific

October 19, 2022

Reaching breaking point: The semiconductor and critical raw material ecosystem at a time of great power rivalry

Russian minister of defence and foreign affairs with Indian conterparts

September 8, 2022

India’s approach to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: An Example of the BJP’s ‘India First’ Thinking and What it Means for the West

Cyber Policy & Resilience

Cyberspace is increasingly a key domain for both domestic and international policy making, with cybersecurity being one of the most pressing challenges. We bridge the field of cybersecurity with traditional statecraft.

Latest Research

October 31, 2022

The parallel front | An analysis of the military use of information in the first seven months of the war in Ukraine

September 14, 2022

Preventing the (Un)thinkable: Escalation Scenarios and Risk Reduction Measures for Russia and NATO following the War in Ukraine

June 13, 2022

Aanpak voor het vaststellen van interventienoodzaak en handelingsperspectief ten aanzien van strategische autonomie op cybersecurity

Energy & Natural Resources

The energy transition is changing the architecture of economies by replacing the traditional fuels with new energy carriers. In this transition period, balancing the conventional energy system with the low-carbon one presents challenges for governments and companies alike. HCSS seeks to understand, analyse and address pressing geo-economic and geopolitical issues induced by the energy transition.

Latest Research

November 28, 2022

The EU Taxonomy explained

November 24, 2022

Position Paper: Chips, kritieke grondstoffen en Nederlands-Europese economische veiligheid

November 15, 2022

The Hydrogen Accelerator Workshop | HCSS, VOTOB & VNO-NCW

a moped with 2 passengers drives through the water

Climate & Security

The Climate & Security Program (CASP) is HCSS’ response to the urgent and ever increasing need for a better understanding of the most pressing geopolitical and security implications of climate change.

Latest Research

November 11, 2022

Global Center on Adaptation | State and Trends in Adaptation Report 2022

September 12, 2022

Water Governance in Iraq: Enabling a Gamechanger

August 8, 2022

Serious Gaming: Grounding and Directing Climate Action

Strategic Monitor

In order to remain on top of the rapid changes in the international environment, the Dutch MFA and MoD have tasked HCSS and the Clingendael Institute to conduct research within the framework of the Strategic Monitor.

Latest Research

November 24, 2022

Position Paper: Chips, kritieke grondstoffen en Nederlands-Europese economische veiligheid

October 19, 2022

Reaching breaking point: The semiconductor and critical raw material ecosystem at a time of great power rivalry

October 18, 2022

Wars to come, Europeans to act | A multimethod foresight study into Europe’s military future

HCSS Datalab & Data Warehouse

The Datalab is HCSS’ in-house evidence and knowledge base that is increasingly becoming the foundation on which we build our geostrategic analyses. By doing so, we complement deep human expertise with more systematic – and multi-perspectivist – machine-based and data-driven analysis.

About The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

HCSS conducts research and provides advice on geopolitical, defence & security issues to governments, international institutions and businesses. We combine broad conceptual knowledge, qualitative and quantitative methods and present our findings in the form of recommendations, strategic explorations and scenario analyses.

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