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But we are proud to say that Stephanie Govaerts contributed 130 entries already.
HCSS, SANCS, Stellenbosch University, Deloitte and the Netherlands Embassy and Consulate in South Africa are extremely excited to finally share the recap of the SANCS Career Day that was held back in May at Deloitte South Africa’s headquarters in Johannesburg. Watch the recap video and see impressions from the day.
Batteries are central to the EU’s transition to a low-carbon economy. This paper analyses the geopolitical vulnerabilities arising from the three most widespread battery chemistries – Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC); Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP); and Sodium Ion Batteries (SIB) – on two timelines, 2025 and 2030 and provides three main takeaways for EU-based policymakers and industry actors.
Can arms control survive when giving up nukes seems to invite risk and keeping them feels like the only reliable hedge? Assistant Analyst Elton Högklint traces this dilemma through four case studies—Ukraine, Libya, North Korea, and Iran—revealing systemic breakdowns in security guarantees, negotiation dynamics, policy continuity, and treatment of civilian nuclear aims. He proposes a revised framework to answer the central question: how do we make disarmament rational, credible and sustainable?
You’ve seen the speeches, the world leaders, and the headlines from the recent NATO Summit in The Hague. But what you haven’t seen is what happened behind-the-scenes. HCSS was proud to be one of the co-organizers of the NATO Public Forum last month. While world leaders took to the stage, our dedicated team worked tirelessly to make the event run smoothly, from shaping the agenda with last-minute speaker changes, to cross-continent coordination of international panels and managing communications and media requests. We’re excited to share a few sneak peeks from the backstage world here – insights, photos, and stories from that other side of the camera by our team on the scene.
We are expanding our Datalab team with junior-level data scientists & software developers who have a strong quantitative background and an affinity for geopolitics and national and international security. We are specifically looking for candidates who have knowledge of methodologies in data science and development, such as machine learning, statistical modelling, and NLP/Generative AI. Candidates must also be able to function in a dynamic project organisation and have a strong interest in building data-driven tools and applying data analysis for strategic policy advice.
In a new report published by the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University, experts Dr. Tom Moerenhout, Cina Vazir, and Irina Patrahau identify five key decisions that must be made to revitalise the U.S. stockpiling system and to establish effective strategies for Europe and the Netherlands. From expanding its mandate to refining what, how, and who should manage it, the report offers a roadmap for policymakers.
Environmental conditions like drought, heat, and soil stress are increasingly linked to armed conflict, but the exact pathways remain unclear. In a new study, Ninoslav Malekovic, Maarten Vonk, Laura Birkman, and Tim Sweijs use advanced causal analysis on Iraqi subdistricts to reveal how these conditions—especially when paired with high energy demand and dense populations—can drive violence through complex chains of resource and demographic pressure. Their findings highlight where and why conflict is more likely, offering a foundation for targeted interventions to prevent violence before it unfolds.
HCSS is looking for new interns for two different internship positions! We’re looking for general interns and a Water, Peace and Security (WPS) intern (both deadlines 20 July). Read to find out more!
This position paper outlines how the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands can deepen their strategic partnership amid global geopolitical and technological shifts. Highlighting key areas such as security, AI governance, and high-tech industry cooperation, the paper calls for joint action on cyber defence, education, clean tech, and innovation. Building on the 2025 ROK-NL Forum, held on April 23rd, it presents a roadmap for agile, values-driven cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
On the 18th of July 2025, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) hosted its symposium “From Cloud to Community: Shaping the Future of Digital Defence” in The Hague. HCSS invited experts to exchange views on shaping the future of digital defence, creating a platform for lively debate and cross-sector collaboration. Just before HCSS hosted this event, HCSS Strategic Analyst Dr. Davis Ellison briefly spoke three of the speakers. Watch the interviews here.
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