Ethan Mansfield on site visits, industry interviews, and what hands-on security research looks like in practice
So what's it like, being an intern at HCSS? From California to The Hague, Ethan Mansfield joined HCSS to put his academic knowledge of international relations into practice. During his internship, he contributed to projects on hybrid threats, nuclear deterrence and critical underwater infrastructure, while attending conferences, industry interviews and site visits. Working alongside HCSS analysts gave him first-hand insight into policy research and helped him develop the practical skills needed to bridge the gap between theory and the realities of international security.
New HCSS Report warns: Europe must break Russia’s strategic trap
Russia's sabotage operations, drone incursions and other sub-threshold attacks across Europe are often treated as isolated incidents. A new HCSS report argues they are a deliberate coercive strategy, designed to reduce European support for Ukraine. Drawing on case studies from Belgium and Poland, the report shows how Russia targets vulnerabilities in European decision-making while exploiting the difficulties of responding below the threshold of major war. To counter this challenge, the authors propose a 4D strategy of Deny, Disrupt, Degrade and Deter. Their central argument: every Russian sub-threshold attack should result in more support for Ukraine and greater costs for Russia.
Event Recap | HCSS Alumni Reunion 2026
On June 25th, 2026 HCSS hosted the second edition of our alumni reunion event at our office, welcoming former staff and interns to reconnect, share stories and re-live great memories! Following the great success of last year's event, our aim is to continue this annual tradition, strengthening our community and creating new opportunities for connection and networking. If you are an HCSS alumni and would like to receive an invitation for future events, please send an email to events@hcss.nl so we can include you in our mailing list.
