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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From the War in Ukraine to the Energy Transition: Searching for a New Balance in the Oil Market
The world oil map is being redrawn, as Russia is looking for new energy markets and the EU looks for alternative producers of fossil fuels. We may aim for an orderly energy transition but in reality the last phase of the fossil fuel era may be relatively chaotic. This HCCS paper aims to shed light on some of the structural issues that contributed to the current crisis, as well as look ahead into some important trends in the oil market up to 2050.

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Een Flexibele Organisatie voor Flexibel Optreden | Onderzoek Inrichtingsprincipe 2
Wat zijn de problemen die Defensie ondervindt bij het kunnen voldoen aan planmatige verplichtingen en ad hoc aanvragen voor stand-by en in te zetten eenheden?

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IMCCS | Climate Security Snapshot: The Balkans
Countries in the Balkans face unique and concerning interactions between climate-influenced disasters and hostile geopolitical influences, write Elsa Barron and Hugo van Manen in a new IMCCS snapshot.

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Iraqi Marshland Women: The True Guardians of the Marshes
The Marshlands of Southern Iraq, often described as the ‘Garden of Eden,’ are under serious threat from the effects of climate change. In a new snapshot, HCSS assistant analyst Kendra Kock argues that Iraqi Marshland women should be considered one of the key stakeholders involved in the decision-making processes concerning the restoration of the Marshes and the livelihoods of its inhabitants.

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Seoul’s Changing Indo-Pacific Manifesto and India: Policy Prescriptions for India-ROK Ties
China’s stupendous rise and the subsequent rivalry with the US for global hegemony have forced countries to choose sides; caught between a rock and a hard place, middle powers like India and South Korea have sought to maintain partnerships with both countries in the geo-economic space while precariously balancing the two in the geo-political domain.

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Action Needed: Three Priorities for Iraq’s Water Sector
The water situation in Iraq is alarming. In 2021, the country experienced its second driest season in 40 years due to record low rainfall. Located downstream, much of the pressure on Iraq's water resources comes from dam construction in neighbouring countries, the impact of violent conflicts, and the consequences of climate change

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August 4, 2022

From the War in Ukraine to the Energy Transition: Searching for a New Balance in the Oil Market

July 27, 2022

Een Flexibele Organisatie voor Flexibel Optreden | Onderzoek Inrichtingsprincipe 2

July 25, 2022

IMCCS | Climate Security Snapshot: The Balkans

July 7, 2022

Iraqi Marshland Women: The True Guardians of the Marshes

June 23, 2022

Seoul’s Changing Indo-Pacific Manifesto and India: Policy Prescriptions for India-ROK Ties

June 22, 2022

Action Needed: Three Priorities for Iraq’s Water Sector

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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

June 23, 2022

Seoul’s Changing Indo-Pacific Manifesto and India: Policy Prescriptions for India-ROK Ties

May 4, 2022

Europa in de Indo-Pacific: moeilijk te vermijden en moeilijk uit te voeren

March 24, 2022

Guarding the Maritime Commons | What role for Europe in the Indo-Pacific

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

June 13, 2022

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

May 30, 2022

The Cyber Arms Watch: Uncovering the Stated & Perceived Offensive Cyber Capabilities of States

April 6, 2022

The Promises and Perils of a Minimum Cyber Deterrence Posture: Considerations for Small and Middle Powers

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

August 4, 2022

From the War in Ukraine to the Energy Transition: Searching for a New Balance in the Oil Market

May 12, 2022

The European tank storage sector: 2050 and beyond

April 5, 2022

European tank storage in global supply chains: Outlook to 2030

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

July 25, 2022

IMCCS | Climate Security Snapshot: The Balkans

July 7, 2022

Iraqi Marshland Women: The True Guardians of the Marshes

June 22, 2022

Action Needed: Three Priorities for Iraq’s Water Sector

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

April 6, 2022

The Promises and Perils of a Minimum Cyber Deterrence Posture: Considerations for Small and Middle Powers

March 28, 2022

Strategic Monitor 2021-2022 | Hanging Together: Partners and Policies for the Netherlands and EU in Turbulent Times

December 8, 2021

Climate Security in Global Hotspots: Policy Options for The Netherlands

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

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