Hi Philippe, could you introduce yourself? Tell me where you are from, what your educational background is, if you had any prior work experience before your internship at HCSS?
Hello there, my name is Philippe! I come from the Netherlands however I have lived abroad for most of my life. Having lived in 6 different countries on three different continents has made me almost predictably curious in world affairs. Particularly about why people, states, and other international organisations act the way they do. This is why I decided to begin my studies with a bachelor’s in International Relations and Organisations at Leiden University. This confirmed my interests and just made me even more curious in figuring out why mankind still goes to war. To explore this further, I then started a minor in Conflict Studies at Utrecht University, followed by a master’s degree in Crisis and Security Management, War and Peace track at Leiden University. For the latter, I am nearing completion this year! These studies were a phenomenal way to get to know the field as well as providing me with an interdisciplinary background which proved to be very important at HCSS!
Next to my studies I kept myself busy with multiple projects such as the West Wing thinktank, setting up a charity in Iraq, and helping found a local political party in Leiden. For the last example, I was given the opportunity to become campaign manager for Students for Leiden (SVL). Our goal was to finally represent the younger generations after 447 years of the university’s existence. As the campaign manager I am extremely proud of having been able to help achieve the current two seats in the municipal council. This experience helped me develop the necessary organisational skills and flexibility to tackle multiple goals at the same time. At HCSS, projects are a plenty and the work is similarly dynamic as your day-to-day can vary greatly. For me this is one of the key reasons why I enjoy the work as much as I do as no day is the same as the other which keeps it interesting.
Can you describe your time as a general intern? What does your day-to-day look like?
I started off with the idea that a general intern’s work is limited to just research and finding additional resources to support the analysts work. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I had been mistaken. When I started at the end of August, I was given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the team, including assisting with report preparation and providing input during project planning discussions. This also means that your voice during project planning is valued, allowing you to contribute to a project’s success. As an intern, your tasks are dynamic and driven by the needs of the project. Practically, this meant that you would start off with an introduction meeting where the goals and deliverables are mapped out. Then you’ll more than likely start with doing the necessary research for a section of the report. Figuring out trends and establishing the facts and figures of the topic you are researching. Finally, you start writing out these findings into written content in addition to making the supporting material like graphs and figures. While this sequence of work is just for report development, you could also be asked to help create a list of questions for subject matter experts and help conduct interviews. You could even be asked to help find people that come to speak at events or assist in giving workshops outside of the office. What this boils down to is that your day-to-day can vary greatly, depending on who you ask. This diversity in tasks is also why working at HCSS is so interesting!
Are there any projects you particularly like working on?
There are several but let me start off with one that has been completed which I am proud of. I had the great pleasure of working together with Strategic Analysts Gerben Bakker and Pieter-Jan Vandoren on a report titled “Geweld aan de Horizon,” which translates to “Violence on the Horizon.” The report looked at the current trends in violence in the Netherlands as per the request of the Dutch Police. This was my introduction to how reports are written and published at HCSS which was very exciting. What’s more is that I was also recognised for my work and added as a co-writer. This is a good reason on its own to come work at HCSS as having your name alongside recognised experts in their field is a great boost to your future endeavours. I particularly enjoyed researching trends within extremism as it built upon what I had learned at university. Through interviews and meeting the people responsible for our national security, we have been collaborating to identify and develop ways to improve it.
I am currently working on the “Strategic Monitor” which is a bird’s eye view of global trends and their influence on our place in the world. These trends include polarisation within Europe, foreign interference, and the increasing fragmentation of our global order. For this project I am working closely with Strategic Analysts Jesse Kommandeur and Ron Stoop, and Director of the Security Programme Frank Bekkers, leveraging their expertise and guidance to create a data driven overview of current world affairs. What particularly stood out to me is the scale of foreign interference. Specifically, the scope of Russian hybrid attacks which is a concerning trend. I believe this report will demonstrate the importance of taking a more proactive stance on addressing these threats. This demonstrates one of the reasons I am so enthusiastic to work at HCSS as one of its key objectives is ensuring societal debate is improved through knowledge. By addressing these concerning trends through these reports, I feel as though I am contributing to the wider discussions being held about them.
Finally, the third project I thoroughly enjoy working on looks to map out why NATO’s coercive diplomacy failed to deter the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our goal is to critically review NATO’s reaction to Russian escalation as well as the inherent biases which may have impacted this decision making. For this project Director of Research Tim Sweijs and Strategic Analyst Nora Nijboer have interviewed many high-ranking officials close to the events. This not only gives me a unique behind the scenes look into the decision-making process, but also enables me to build upon what I learned at university. Applying the theoretical framework of coercive diplomacy to the practical considerations and choices that were made by NATO officials is a phenomenal way of testing the limitations of theory in real world scenarios. Furthermore, theory can provide solutions for policy makers that may not have been apparent to them before. This is another big reason to consider working at HCSS as it bridges the gap between the academic and the policy making worlds.
How did the team or your supervisor/mentor contribute to your internship experience?
During my internship thus far, I have felt nothing but fully included and part of the HCSS team. When looking at potential employers I greatly value being seen and heard. The team at HCSS along with my mentor Pieter-Jan Vandoren, have gone above and beyond in creating an environment where my contributions are acknowledged and encouraged. I hope it is evident from reading about just three of the projects I have been working on, the analysts here are very enthusiastic to share their knowledge and expertise. Through structural feedback moments, as well as regular guidance throughout the day. My supervisors have helped me refine my analytical skillset, fostered both my professional growth and enthusiasm for learning about global affairs. The collaborative atmosphere at HCSS enabled me to not only learn from experienced experts but also encouraged me to come up with my own ideas and avenues for research. This is why I believe that my positive experience with the internship is in large part thanks to the wonderful team at HCSS.
This interview was conducted by HCSS Communications & Events Officer, Stephanie Govaerts
