The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) is looking for an enthusiastic PR, Marketing & Communications intern, to start February 1st. 

HCSS offers a dynamic internship in an international organization, where you will work on different topics such as global trends, international security, cyber security and resource scarcity. This is not your run-of-the-mill ‘get coffee and copy some papers’ internship: at HCSS you will experience what it’s like to be part of a small team of professionals in a fast paced environment.

As a PR intern you actively contribute to developing and executing communication strategies for HCSS activities, projects, publications and other products.

Responsibilities include, amongst others:

• creating and drafting social media content;
• updating and maintaining the social media channels (twitter, facebook, linkedin, etc);
• proofreading articles, papers, (powerpoint) presentations and reports, and formatting into our housestyle;
• drafting of press briefings and newsletters;
• supporting HCSS media monitoring;
• recording and editing podcasts;
• updating and maintaining the website through our CMS;
• help with organizing and logistics of events, such as seminars, conferences, roundtables and expert meetings;
• designing banners and other visuals for promotional purposes.

The deadline for the application is Sunday the 31st of January 2021 (23:59) and the start date of the internship is the 1st of February 2021.

Required Skills:

Candidates should have/are:

• fluent in Dutch; an excellent verbal and written command of English is highly desirable. HCSS is an internationally oriented thinktank, however, much of our communication is still conducted in Dutch;
• in pursuit of a degree in journalism, communications, political science, international relations or similar;
• a proven interest in the field of geopolitics and (international) security, and in communication and PR;
• experience with multimedia, social media and/or audio/visual tools and programs is highly desirable (canva, photoshop, tweetdeck, buffer, audacity, mailchimp, wordpress, drupal, soundcloud, etc).

We are looking for creative and proactive personalities with a hands-on mentality; due to tight deadlines, the pace is often high. You will be guided by the Communications Department and our analysts, but you will also get your fair share of responsibilities and freedom. We are an innovative company and therefore always open to new ideas.

Eligibility:

• Candidates must be enrolled as a student during the entire duration of the internship. Without a proof of enrollment, valid for the entire duration of the internship, you are not eligible and your application will not be considered.
• An internship period of six months is highly preferred, although shorter periods can be discussed. Please indicate your availability in your cover letter.
• Interns should be able to commit to working 40 hours a week.
• Successful candidates are asked to provide a certificate of good conduct (‘Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag’) by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and proof of enrollment valid for the entire duration of the internship. Candidates residing outside of the Netherlands should provide a certificate from their country of residence.

Practical information

Apply by sending the following documents to info@hcss.nl using “PR Internship 2/2021” as the subject line:

• A curriculum vitae, including references with contact details;
• A cover letter, indicating your availability;
• Proof of enrollment valid for the entire duration of the internship;
• A recent written text in English, preferably a press release, news article or a short blog (max 1 A4);
• Any other examples of your creativity are always welcome.

HCSS only considers candidates that submit a complete application and fulfill all eligibility requirements. Successful applicants will be invited for an interview.

The HCSS internship is paid.

In the interest of the successful candidate’s learning trajectory, the internship will be carried out at the HCSS office in The Hague, insofar as this is feasible given the current travel restrictions related to COVID-19. Potential working arrangements can be discussed during the interview process.

For more information please contact the Communications Office, at 070-318 4840.

As 2020 comes to an end (finally!), we take stock of a year to remember in this final HCSS Digest. The corona crisis changed the world at an unprecedented rate. Global trends that already existed are accelerating, geopolitical relationships are no longer the same and the way we travel, work and spend our free time has changed radically. What will 2021 bring us?

In an extra-long episode of podcast De Strateeg, host Paul van Liempt discusses five major trends with five HCSS experts: what happened in 2020, and what will 2021 bring? And most importantly: what does this mean for you? Listen to Patrick Bolder (space as a military domain),  Rob De Wijk (the power of China), Frank Bekkers (Integrated Air and Missile Defense), Paul van Hooft (multilateralism and the Indo-Pacific) and Tim Sweijs (new wars).

How did Covid-19 change the future? In a Chaillot Paper for the European Union Institute for Security Studies, Deputy Director Florence Gaub and HCSS Strategic Analyst Lotje Boswinkel assess the geopolitical trends the Covid-19 pandemic is perceived as having accelerated, as well as the scope for innovation and far-reaching change induced by the crisis. (PDF download link)

The world has benefited economically for years from the growth spurt China is experiencing. Yet Rob de Wijk warns entrepreneurs who want to do business with the Chinese. "Naivety is lurking, China plays the game a lot smarter". Read the complete interview in the latest edition of Nederland Logistiek here.

The January 1 deadline is getting closer. Will the British and the EU still manage to reach a Brexit deal? Han ten Broeke discussed the issue in WNL Vandaag, where he commented that the current turmoil shows how chaotic and bad Brexit is. “Britons wanted sovereignty and are only now learning that they depend on trading partners.”

Covid has delivered a wake-up call for long-term thinking, said HCSS energy expert Lucia van Geuns at BNR De Wereld. That longer term is not that far away at all, but corona disguises the fact that we are far from being on that path.

Trump, Brexit and a growing distrust of traditional geopolitical collaborations, the world was at the threshold of a new era 5 years ago. So how is Europe doing now? Platform O talked to Rob de Wijk at length to discuss the current state of affairs.

In WNL Vandaag, Han ten Broeke also discussed the mutated and more contagious form of the coronavirus and the measures the EU countries should take, the need for a good communication strategy about the vaccine by the government, and which influencer should be the face of that vaccination campaign – suggesting the King, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Han stepped to the plate and rolled up his sleeves himself...

What would you do with $ 900 billion? It took them months, but Democrats and Republicans have finally reached a deal on a Covid-19 relief package. From stimulus checks, to jobless aid and small-business loans, HCSS Data Scientist and expert on US Politics Paul Verhagen discussed the bill on BNR Nieuwsradio.

Are Western countries too naive about dealing with Chinese companies? "China is on the rise. There is nothing wrong with that, but China is pursuing power politics and does so in every possible way," says Rob de Wijk at EenVandaag. "It's a state capitalist country, so the economy is politics." (video link here)

Are you up for a challenge in 2021? Interested in working in a dynamic, fastpaced and international environment? Then check out the HCSS Internship Program and apply now!

And with that, we end the final HCSS Digest of the year – wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Covid-19 erupted into a landscape of change: even before the pandemic unfolded, the world was already grappling with major challenges and the emergence of new geopolitical fissures and trends.

In the face of the economic and societal changes brought by the coronavirus, as well as the structural fragilities that it has exposed, some argue that that the pandemic will merely accentuate pre-existing trends and dynamics, while others believe that the crisis will create a world profoundly different than before.

This Chaillot Paper by Strategic Analyst Lotje Boswinkel and Florence Gaub examines both dimensions: it assesses the geopolitical trends the pandemic is perceived as having accelerated, and the scope for innovation and far-reaching change induced by the crisis. In the final section it explores the interplay of trends and uncertainties in three distinct scenarios. It concludes that to proactively shape the future, EU decision-makers have strategic choices to make – with the role that Europe wants to play in a world shaped by Sino-American antagonism being the most important.

Read the paper here, or download the PDF. 

Het jaar 2020 was er één om nooit te vergeten. De coronacrisis veranderde de wereld ongekend snel en veel ontwikkelingen zijn nog steeds aan de gang. Trends die er soms al waren, zijn aan het versnellen, geopolitieke verhoudingen zijn niet meer hetzelfde en de manier waarop we reizen, werken en onze vrije tijd besteden, is ingrijpend veranderd. Wat gaat het nieuwe jaar ons brengen?

Luister de aflevering hier: Een strategisch nieuwjaar

Hoe zal China zich bijvoorbeeld gaan gedragen? Gaan we meer inzetten op defensie van ons grondgebied? Of gaan we ons militair meer focussen op de ruimte? En wordt het een vredig jaar, of zullen er juist meer conflicten ontbranden?

Dat hoor je in deze laatste aflevering van De Strateeg in 2020. Een extra lange, waarin vijf experts van het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies te gast zijn bij Paul van Liempt. Elk bespreken zij met hem één belangrijk eigen thema. Wat gebeurde er in 2020 en wat mogen we verwachten voor 2021?

Gasten en onderwerpen:

• Patrick Bolder, over de ruimte als militair domein.
• Rob de Wijk, over de macht van China.
• Frank Bekkers, over Integrated Air and Missile Defense.
• Paul van Hooft, over 'multilateralism and the Indo-Pacific'.
• Tim Sweijs, over 'nieuwe oorlogen'.

Over deze podcast:

Podcast De Strateeg verschijnt eens in de twee weken bij BNR, abonneer je via bnr.nl/destrateeg om geen enkele aflevering te missen, of luister via de BNR App, Spotify, Apple Podcasts of je eigen podcastapp.

Host: Paul van Liempt | Redactie: Diederik de Groot

Only one week left until Christmas… at the end of a turbulent year, are we any closer to peace on earth – pa rum pum pum pum – or was there enough geopolitical ruckus to fill a new HCSS Digest? Find out, after the break.

What are the security implications of COVID-19 for Europe? In a new article for Atlantisch Perspectief, Tim Sweijs and Femke Remmits discuss how the pandemic is above all an accelerator, an exacerbator and a catalyst of prevailing security dynamics.

With Joe Biden, Europe will have an ally again in 2021, Rob de Wijk wrote in het Financieele Dagblad. But things are not going back to the way they used to be, as Trump's lack of leadership has strengthened Russia and China.

Proponents argue that persistent engagement should lead to more stability in cyberspace and more credible deterrence, but critics fear misinterpretation, escalation and undermining of the international legal order. In a new article for Militaire Spectator, Louk Faesen describes the content of persistent engagement in the cyber domain, the possible consequences according to proponents and opponents and what it can mean for the Netherlands (or download the article in PDF form here).

The SolarWindsHack shows precisely why we can't rely on a treaty to govern state behavior in cyberspace. Rather, governments must cooperate to uphold existing norms, argue Michael Chertoff, Latha Reddy & Alexander Klimburg in an article for Project Syndicate.

According to BP we have reached the Peak Oil moment, in part thanks to corona. And when the demand for oil declines, it can cause major power shifts, HCSS energy expert Lucia van Geuns explained on BNR De Wereld.

With only a few weeks to go until the January 1 deadline, will there be a Brexit deal, or not? Man of all trades Han ten Broeke spoke about the negotiations between the British and the EU on WNL’s Goedemorgen Nederland – and about 3-year-old Mila who watches press conferences of Prime Minister Rutte to help her get to sleep.

Now that Joe Biden has been officially confirmed as the new President of the United States, it’s time to look at the heritage of four years of Trump. He leaves behind a totally polarized and disrupted society, with his close to fascist views that will go down in history as Trumpism, Rob de Wijk wrote in his weekly column for Trouw.

In other European countries, the first people will be vaccinated this month. So why does the Netherlands only start the vaccination program on January 8, the opposition wonders. The fact that the Netherlands starts late 'does not mean that you finish last', Han ten Broeke commented on Spraakmakers op 1 this morning.

In a cooperation with BlackShore and 52Impact, and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), we are about to answer the question: can machines do what crowds are doing? Through satellite imagery, crowdsourcing ánd machine learning, we will be mapping the the impact of Covid-19 on food security and political stability: The best of both worlds: Crowds & Machines. 

After the year we’ve had, are you looking to start 2021 in an exciting and challenging way? Then apply for the HCSS General Internship Program!

This week we also say congratulations to Strategic Analyst and daddy cool Hugo van Manen, celebrating his birthday on December 18th, and to Assistant Analyst Irina Patrahau, whose birthday is this Sunday, December 20th.

Last but definitely not least: we have to say goodbye to Assistant Analyst Femke Remmits, who will be leaving us soon. Thanks for everything Femke, you were a joy to work with – and an absolute Back Office Backup Hero!

In a cooperation with BlackShore, 52Impact, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) supported by the European Space Agency - ESA, we are about to answer a question I got in many talks during the pré 2020 era ;)

Over the years, I had the honor telling the story of our Cerberus crowdsourcing platform to become in which we use human intelligence to generate maps and thus helps us to solve world problems. Using this platform we gain understanding by mapping disasters, impact of relief and other important matters affecting our planet Earth. Each and every talk I was asked:

"can't machines do what your crowd is doing"?

Well.. the basis of our whole method is that the crowd gets through e-learning and serious gaming a toolbox so they can answer complex questions by making decisions more based on context and clues than just visual recognition, a task which was and is still hard for artificial intelligence systems…

...regardless, AI is of course an incredible resource, especially related to remote sensing, so with a strong cooperation I am very proud to bring you a new answer.. ..with this announcement, I would like to introduce that we are transforming the Cerberus platform as a mapping engine, into a training engine for machines. You know, to proper train machines there should still be human input somewhere, and that is what we are going to facilitate.

In this project in particular, we will be measuring the impact of the 2020 challenges on the capacity to grow crops, starting in Ethiopia. Ethiopia, is an important cereal producer, and we'd like to help out to see if the country is faring well during this year. We can do this by comparing crop yields during time while we do understand our crowd alone isn't the best party to monitor for long durations, as well as they had proven to prefer an interest in working on very high resolution satellite imagery, and not on the high resolution being provided by Europe's Sentinel-2 for example.

To solve this, we have decided to make some changes by creating the best environment for our crowd to excel, and the best environment for machines to be trained with new land information. Hence, the crowd prefers to work with superior image quality, which is vivid and blooming with details, which they also know from other Cerberus campaigns for example, such as what we did on the Solomon Islands. On the other hand, machines, making use of multi spectral bands of satellites do a pretty good job, just doing pixel classifications. So, basically we are maximizing the user experience for the crowd, by triggering their personal curiosity, while we provide machines what they need.

Going a bit deeper in the project at hand and thus the map we are launching for the holidays, we are going to use the crowd to map a controlled area in Ethiopia covering the Kulumsa agricultural research center which is a capture exactly during the 2020 harvest season (November 2020), in which we will carefully request them to do some thorough pattern recognition. Giving them the proper training, by the explanation how you can distinct harvested wheat from teff or barley and maize, will provide us with a vast training dataset to be used to engage in mapping automatically in an area far overarching the control area. Even more, knowing now what certain crop types look like in this country, will allow us to start monitoring over time to start generating trends and better understand (political) stability of countries.

So, the bottom line here, is we are not only making the data chain super-efficient combining commercially available data with high resolution open data, we are also finally answering the question:

The combination of crowds and machines with Cerberus are for us the best of both worlds.

This project is a joint effort of BlackShore, 52Impact and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and support by the European Space Agency, whereas we are answering to the call to use space data to understand the impact of the 2020 challenges on our planet. The imagery in this article is credited by BlackShore, Airbus Defence and Space and the European Space Agency.

Hans van 't Woud, Founder & CEO of BlackShore, published on December 17, 2020.

Nu het electoral college zijn zegen over de verkiezing van Joe Biden als de nieuwe president van de Verenigde Staten heeft gegeven, kan de balans van vier jaar Trump worden opgemaakt. Ik ga er daarbij gemakshalve van uit, dat de oproep van extreem-rechts om de staat van beleg af te kondigen en de ‘frauduleuze’ verkiezingen over te doen door Trump niet gehonoreerd zal worden. Ook al twitterde zijn voormalige en veroordeelde veiligheidsadviseur Michael Flynn hierover met grote instemming.

De uitbraak van Covid-19 heeft veel van Trumps erfenis, zoals een florerende economie en de erkenning van de staat Israël door steeds meer Arabische landen, weggevaagd. Blijft over zijn ontwrichting van de maatschappij op grond van de tegen het fascisme aanschurkende opvattingen die als Trumpisme de geschiedenis ingaan. Met fascisme bedoel ik nadrukkelijk niet Hitlers nazisme dat leidde tot de Holocaust, maar het Italiaanse fascisme van Benito Mussolini die van 1922 tot 1943 aan de macht was. Veel kenmerken daarvan zijn op Trump van toepassing: nationalisme (America First), extreem conservatisme, autoritair leiderschap en machtsvertoon, legitimering van geweld, afwijzen van de rechtsstaat (deep state) en steun van een ontevreden middenklasse die met propagandatechnieken tot het juiste gedrag wordt gedwongen.

De kracht van de Amerikaanse democratische instituties

Het afkondigen van de staat van beleg past hierin, maar ik denk dat de kracht van de Amerikaanse democratische instituties daarvoor te groot is, met inbegrip van de krijgsmacht. Dat Trump niet op de steun van de krijgsmacht kan rekenen bleek al in juni, toen hij met geweld het plein voor het Witte Huis liet schoonvegen om voor een kerk met een bijbel te poseren. De hoogste militaire baas, generaal Milley, bood later zijn verontschuldigingen aan. Hij had zich daar niet met de president moeten laten fotograferen: ‘ik had er niet moeten zijn’. Zijn aanwezigheid had kunnen worden opgevat als een poging van de krijgsmacht zich met binnenlandse politiek te bemoeien.

De verkiezing van Biden laat zien dat het democratische proces nog werkt. Dat werd zeker duidelijk toen het hoogste gerechtshof niet wilde interveniëren. De benoeming van conservatieve rechters in dat hof bleek voor Trump van weinig waarde. Voor het hof was de wet leidend, niet Trump. Ook het feit dat het electoral college zich niet door Trump liet intimideren stemt gerust.

Een totaal gepolariseerde maatschappij

Trump laat een totaal gepolariseerde maatschappij na, waarin bijna de helft van de mensen permanent boos is, bereid is hun lot in handen van een autocraat te leggen en achter propaganda, nepnieuws en complottheorieën aan te lopen. Deze erfenis zou wel eens duurzaam kunnen zijn.

Behalve met Mussolini is het lastig om Trump met een andere leider te vergelijken. Met Poetin deelt hij het nationaal-conservatieve en autoritaire gedachtengoed. Maar daar houdt het op. De interessantste vergelijking is wellicht de Argentijnse leider Juan Perón die in de jaren dertig in Italië kennismaakte met het gedachtengoed van Mussolini. Ook hij schurkte tegen het fascisme aan. Hij kwam tweemaal aan de macht. Zijn Peronisme heeft decennialang de Argentijnse politiek vergiftigd en ontregeld met een staatsgreep, dictatoriale leiders en mensenrechtenschendingen. Hopelijk ontwikkelt het Trumpisme zich niet in die richting. 

Rob de Wijk, 18 december 2020, Trouw

Rob de Wijk is hoogleraar internationale relaties en veiligheid aan de Universiteit Leiden en oprichter van het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies (HCSS). Hij schrijft wekelijks over internationale verhoudingen. Lees zijn columns hier terug. 

The SolarWinds hack shows precisely why we can't rely on a treaty to govern state behavior in cyberspace. Rather, governments must cooperate to uphold existing norms, argue Michael Chertoff, Latha Reddy & Alexander Klimburg in an article for Project Syndicate.

The recently discovered SolarWinds hack holds obvious lessons for governments around the world, particularly after a year in which cyber attacks on critical infrastructure have surged. International action is urgently needed, not to write new treaties or codes of conduct, but to enforce existing norms.

WASHINGTON, DC – The recent discovery of the devastating Sunburst hacking campaign against US and global targets is once again challenging the international community to respond to an increase in cyber attacks. Over the past year, cybersecurity personnel worldwide have faced a surge of hacks against critical infrastructure, including institutions fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. While governments have openly condemned some of this behavior, more collective action is clearly needed.

There is no international treaty for cyber matters, and the 11 non-binding norms of responsible state cyber behavior endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly are somewhat ambiguous. Additional norms are being put forward all the time, which is a good thing. But norms are not treaties and should not be treated that way. The better option is to concentrate on the spirit – not just the letter – of what the norms convey. Indeed, the latest hacking revelation shows precisely why an international cybersecurity treaty would likely fail.

SolarWinds, a leading US network-management company, produces a monitoring platform that grants IT support staff remote access to devices that have it installed. The recent supply-chain attack hijacked the software’s update function to install the so-called Sunburst malware. As the tech publication The Register reports, SolarWinds is deployed in more than 425 US Fortune 500 corporations, all major US telecoms companies, and most branches of the US government (with a similar presence in many other developed economies). And the cybersecurity company FireEye, whose reported breach early last week was instrumental in uncovering the campaign, said that institutions worldwide may have been compromised, even if the US government was the likely focus.

The US government itself suspects Russian intelligence actors of perpetrating the attack, and the cybersecurity expert Jeff Moss has argued that unmasking the campaign could even prompt the attackers to take further action.

Read the full aticle on Project Syndicate.

Leidt persistent engagement tot meer stabiliteit in cyberspace, of tot misinterpretaties en escalatie? In een artikel voor Militaire Spectator beschrijven Louk Faesen (Strategisch Analist bij HCSS) en Deborah Lassche (onderzoeker bij TNO) de mogelijke gevolgen volgens voor- en tegenstanders en wat persistent engagement kan betekenen voor Nederland.

In het najaar van 2018 haalde het Cybercommando van de Verenigde Staten (CYBERCOM) de Russische trollenfabriek Internet Research Agency offline. Deze offensieve cyberactie wordt gezien als een eerste test van CYBERCOM’s nieuwe strategie van persistent engagement. Volgens voorstanders zou het nieuwe optreden moeten leiden tot meer stabiliteit in cyberspace, geloofwaardigere afschrikking en het beter markeren van rode lijnen over wat wel en niet acceptabel is in cyberspace. Critici vrezen echter voor gebrek aan communicatie of overcommunicatie, misinterpretaties, escalatie en een ondermijning van de internationale rechtsorde. Als gevolg hiervan zou persistent engagement het algehele strategische landschap veranderen en de deterrence posture van kleine tot middelgrote landen zoals Nederland.

Lees het hele artikel hier bij Militaire Spectator of download hier de PDF.

The HCSS internship is a dynamic and varied opportunity in research, analysis, data, communication, design, networking, copy writing, and policy development. We are an independent think tank specialized in global trends, security, and geo-economics. Interns contribute to high-impact products for clients including governments, international organizations, research organizations, the private sector, and NGOs.

The deadline for the application is Monday the 4th of January 2021 (23:59) for a February 2021 start date.

The HCSS internship offers an excellent springboard for future careers in a wide range of fields, interns are involved as full-fledged team members in research-projects. Activities can range from conducting background research, data collection and analysis, co-writing reports and papers, to being involved in the organization of workshops and conferences. This way, interns gain valuable work experience in a professional environment, which helps them in their future development and careers in both the public and private sector. Also, the HCSS internship offers the opportunity to build and expand your professional network.

Please apply only if you are available for (one of) the above mentioned start dates.  HCSS recruits interns all year round; later start dates will be announced in due time.

Requirements

Candidates should have a first rate academic background, strong transferable skills, and a keen interest in the topics covered by HCSS research.

Further requirements include:

• A strong basis of analytical, writing and synthesizing skills;
• Ability to think creatively and out-of-the-box;
• Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing;
• Knowledge of advanced internet search strategies;
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment;
• Flexibility and ability to multi-task;
• Positive professional attitude;
• Strong work ethic and willingness to learn;
• Some quantitative research skills.

The following attributes are considered a strong asset:

• Prior work or internship experience;
• proficiency in Dutch or other languages;
• Being a native English speaker;
• Strong quantitative research skills. If you have a background in data science (specifically R or Python) you may also be interested in our Data Internship.

Eligibility:

• Candidates must be enrolled as a student at a university during the whole internship period.
• An internship period of six months is highly preferred, although shorter periods can be discussed (absolute minimum is 4 months). Please indicate your availability in your cover letter. Interns should be able to commit to working 40 hours a week.
• If successful in obtaining a position, candidates are asked to provide a certificate of good conduct (‘Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag’), available from the Dutch Ministry of Jutice. Candidates residing outside of the Netherlands should provide a certificate from their country of residence.

Frequently asked questions:

• Can I apply if I am no longer a student (recently graduated)? HCSS internships are for enrolled students. Without a proof of enrollment, valid for the entire duration of the internship, you are not eligible. Your application will not be considered.
• Is it possible to do a part-time internship? Currently HCSS does not offer part-time internships within the General Internship Program.

Application Procedure: 

To apply, send the following items to info@hcss.nl, using 'General Internship 1/2021' as the subject line.

• A curriculum vitae, including a list of references;
• A cover letter;
• Proof of university enrollment, valid for the entire duration of the internship;
• Copy of official transcript of academic grades;
• A one-page writing sample (excluding bibliography if relevant) answering one of the following questions:

1. Consider a trend which could affect the security of the Netherlands in the next decade. What is being done to address the issue? What more could be done?
2. Consider a way in which the Netherlands could exercise more effective foreign policy without increasing military expenditure. What are the advantages and limitations of this approach?
3. Consider a policy which could help the eurozone improve its competitiveness. What are the advantages and limitations of this policy?
4. Consider a tool or methodology which could add value to HCSS products. What are its advantages and limitations?
5. Design an infographic which communicates the main message of an HCSS report in very few words.

Notes regarding the application procedure:

• Please ensure that your application is complete before sending it in. Providing a list of references with contact details as part of your CV (at least two) is a mandatory requirement- we will not request them at a later stage.
• The whole application should be written in English including the writing sample.
• Please apply only if you are available for the above mentioned start date. HCSS recruits interns all year around; later start dates will be announced in due time.

Practical Information

The HCSS internship is paid.

HCSS only considers candidates that submit a complete application and fulfill all eligibility requirements. Successful applicants will be invited for an interview.

In the interest of the successful candidate’s learning trajectory, the internship will be carried out at the HCSS office in The Hague, insofar as this is feasible given the current travel restrictions related to COVID-19. Potential working arrangements can be discussed during the interview process.

How can the Netherlands mitigate the risks & effects posed by Chinese standard setting initiatives? And what can we do to secure our supply of critical materials & technologies? What if worldwide information flows are threatened and disrupted? Catch up with the latest HCSS Digest to find out!

Standard setting is becoming increasingly relevant in securing critical raw materials needed for climate and digital ambitions. But do Chinese standard setting initiatives pose a threat? And if so, what can the Netherlands do mitigate this threat and any other unwanted effects? That’s the topic of a new HCSS report, “Standards for Critical Raw Materials”, in which Irina Patrahau, Hugo van Manen, Tycho de Feijter and Michel Rademaker set out to assert if Chinese standard setting initiatives pose a threat to the Netherlands’ and EU’s national security.

The Dutch dependence on critical raw materials, which are largely controlled by China, is highly problematic – especially given the fact that these materials are essential for meeting geopolitical and environmental ambitions. Read the report “Securing critical materials for critical sectors” by Irina Patrihau, Michel Rademaker, Hugo van Manen, Lucia van Geuns, together with Ankita Singhvi and René Kleijn of the Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen, to find out what the Netherlands, in collaboration with the EU, can do to secure its supply of critical materials & technologies.

From 5G to the data streams in contemporary military hardware to the SWIFT messaging system, our modern society depends on the speedy, secure, and uninterrupted flow of information. But what if these worldwide flows are threatened and disrupted? In a new HCSS report, Paul Verhagen, Esther Chavannes and Frank Bekkers aim to contribute to a better understanding of the notion of Flow Security and of the policy options for the Netherlands and Europe.

Boris Johnson hoped to force a breakthrough in the Brexit negotiations in Brussels this week. Han ten Broeke expects that "the realization" will prevail that a chaotic hard Brexit is undesirable and that a deal will eventually take place, he said on WNL’s Goedemorgen Nederland.

US intelligence chief Ratcliffe claimed China is conducting biological tests to create ‘super soldiers’, and has been the greatest threat to freedom and democracy since WW II. China expert Rob de Wijk notes that China won’t be worried about the claims. “The only thing China is really worried about,” De Wijk says to RTL Nieuws, “is the possible cooperation between America and Europe. The two of them can form a real block against the growing power of the Chinese."

In an article on International Law and Cyberspace, CircleID references the paper by Alexander Klimburg and Louk Faesen, "A Balance of Power in Cyberspace", where they argue that a realistic approach to stability and international order needs compromises that will give all parties the same "relative security and relative insecurity". Stability in cyberspace "hinges upon the acceptance of the framework of the international order by all major powers, at least to the extent that no state is so dissatisfied that it expresses it in a revolutionary foreign policy."

The youth movement of the SP with their idealistic view of communism, the youth of FVD with a fascination for Nazism; why are young people attracted to these kinds of thoughts, Rob de Wijk wonders in his column for Trouw.

HCSS Subject Matter Expert Heiko Borchert was part of the task force chaired by Prof. dr. Ulrich Schlie, former Defense Policy Director in the German MoD, contributing to the latest report by the Henry Kissinger Chair at CASSIS, Bonn, on the future of transatlantic relations. So far, the report has only been published in German, but an English translation will follow soon.

Congratulations to Strategic Analyst Patrick Bolder, who was awarded the change of numbers on the Officer’s Cross medal for honorable long time service as an officer from 30 to 35 years. Often called the Jeneverkruis ("Gin Cross"), since traditionally, a glass of gin was consumed during the ceremonies in the officer’s residence. This tradition was instated in 1844 by King William II and is connected to his birthday on December 6. 

Een paar jaar geleden vroeg een hoge Chinese functionaris van de Communistische Partij mij of ik wist waarom Chinese leiders ‘Das Kapital’ van Karl Marx lezen. Ik wist het niet. Dat boek was volgens hem een handleiding voor hoe je het eigen volk en vervolgens de rest van de wereld onder de duim kan krijgen.

Het normatieve Marxisme levert namelijk een samenbindend en richtinggevend verhaal op. Als je tenminste gelooft in de stelling dat de uitbuiters van het kapitalisme plaats moeten maken voor een communistische maatschappij waarin iedereen gelijk is.

Als je als leider ook nog eens zegt dat je namens het volk spreekt en dat wil beschermen tegen de uitbuiters, dan is de sprong naar dictatuur snel gemaakt. Hierdoor is in China het communisme een retorische façade geworden waarachter cowboykapitalisme en onderdrukking schuilgaan.

De Sovjet-Unie ging ten onder toen de legitimiteit van het communisme verdween omdat corrupte leiders niet voor welvaart konden zorgen.

Idealistische kijk op het communisme

De jeugdbeweging van de SP herbergt een factie die net als de vroegere revolutionaire Russen en Chinezen een idealistische kijk op het communisme heeft. Het klinkt zo mooi wat ze op hun website schrijven ‘een samenleving zonder staat, zonder klassen, zonder geld, zonder armoede en zonder oorlog. Een samenleving van vrije producenten waarin we collectief de baas zijn over de economie. Een samenleving die draait om mensen en onze leefomgeving, niet de dictaten van kapitaal.’

Aan de andere kant van het spectrum zijn er jongeren met een fascinatie voor het nazisme, met inbegrip van Jodenhaat. Die zijn in de jongerenbeweging van Forum voor Democratie te vinden. Thierry Baudet vindt dat prima. Net als bij de SP leidde deze radicaliteit tot een heuse politieke crisis.

Waarom jongeren zich tot dit soort gedachten voelen aangetrokken is een te weinig gestelde vraag. Ze zullen zeggen dat de gedachten op zich goed zijn, maar dat deze in het verleden zijn ontspoord en dat zij die fouten niet weer zullen maken. Dit soort idealisme ontspoort echter altijd, omdat heersen en overheersen nu eenmaal in de menselijke aard zit. Bovendien vinden uiterst-links en uiterst-rechts elkaar als het gaat om het overboord zetten van de rechtsstaat en het invoeren van de dictatuur.

Verweesd in een complexe wereld

Een verklaring voor hun gedrag is dat deze jongeren zelf ontspoord zijn. Ze zijn verweesd in een complexe wereld waarin globalisering, neoliberalisme en machtsverschuivingen ons leven lijken te bepalen en waarin een richtinggevende ideologie ontbreekt. Dus grijp je terug op simpele ideologieën waarmee je je eigen werkelijkheid kunt creëren. Je wijst zondebokken aan zoals Joden, moslims of kapitalisten. Je sluit je van de verderfelijke buitenwereld af en kiest voor nationalisme en protectionisme. En je negeert de democratie en de rechtsstaat.

Zou dit het gevolg zijn van gebrekkig geschiedenisonderwijs of van het maar niet goed van de grond komen van het vak burgerschapskunde? Komt het doordat jongeren geen boek of artikel meer lezen en hun informatie via Facebook en Instagram tot zich nemen?

Of komt het doordat het redelijke midden geen samenbindend verhaal heeft dat jongeren richting geeft in een complexe wereld. Ik denk dat het een combinatie van al deze factoren is.

Rob de Wijk: Trouw, 11 december 2020

Rob de Wijk is hoogleraar internationale relaties en veiligheid aan de Universiteit Leiden en oprichter van het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies (HCSS). Hij schrijft wekelijks over internationale verhoudingen. Lees zijn columns hier terug.

What can the EU do to not be completely dependent on China for raw materials? Which security threats is Brazil facing as climate change impacts surge? Should we ban autonomous weapons systems? All this, and more, in the new HCSS Digest!

What can the EU do to avoid being completely dependent on China for raw materials? Take on the fight, or look for alternatives? Listen to the new episode of podcast De Strateeg, with HCSS Deputy Director Michel Rademaker and MEP Tom Berendsen, discussing the global power game for control of raw materials.

Climate change will increase the burdens on Brazil's armed forces and endanger the country's energy and water security, military experts predict in a new report from the IMCCS, the International Military Council on Climate and Security.

The IMCCS report was picked up by various media, such as Reuters: Brazil to face major security threats as climate impacts surge, military experts warn, as continuing Amazon forest loss and climate impacts could drive growing shortages of water and hydropower.

China doesn’t have enough agricultural land to sustain its own population, and is therefore looking for our agricultural gems. According to Rob de Wijk, the Netherlands must prevent our agricultural sector from being hijacked, or drastically reduced, he says in an interview with RTL Z. Because it is precisely this agricultural power that is a strong asset on the world stage – and thus a strategic asset against China.

What does the future hold in store for NATO and the transatlantic relationship? Dr. Jack Thompson, Senior Strategic Analyst at HCSS and Co-chair of the Initiative on the Future of Transatlantic Relations, has written a chapter on “The US role in NATO: past, present, and future” for a new publication: "NATO and Transatlantic Relations in the 21st Century: Foreign and Security Policy Perspectives". This essential book, published by Routledge on December 31st, explores the evolution and future relevance of NATO from the perspective of the member-states.

Unmanned weapon systems should be banned, 170 scientists wrote in an open letter this week, but are these autonomous weapons really that dangerous? Strategic analyst Patrick Bolder brings some much needed nuance in radioshow Dit Is De Dag.

Earlier this week, Bolder was ANP Expert of the Day for the ANP Expert Support, a new pilot HCSS has joined to make access to experts in various fields more easier for journalists and media.

If the Netherlands wants to take the lead in the EU in the fight for more budgetary discipline and sustainable land use, and against squandering and corruption, PM Rutte must come up with a new narrative about the EU - something he has not been able to do in recent years, says Rob de Wijk in his column for Trouw.

The Trump administration is pushing hard for a major anti-Iran coalition in the Middle East, whereas Joe Biden seems to want to improve the relationship with Iran. HCSS defense expert Peter Wijninga commented on the situation on BNR Nieuwsradio. Wijninga also spoke on BNR about the withdrawal of US troops from Germany.

In other news... We’re also celebrating two birthdays this week: congratulations to Michel Rademaker and many happy returns to Laura Birkman!

Finally, we’d like to welcome new Assistant Analyst Jeffrey Trux to the ranks of HCSS!

De ‘vrekkige vier’ lijken een onuitwisbare indruk te hebben gemaakt. In aanloop naar de EU-top van juli wilden Denemarken, Nederland, Oostenrijk, Zweden samen de EU-begroting onder controle houden om te voorkomen dat de schulden van de zuidelijke lidstaten zouden exploderen. Ze waren ertegen om die landen met gratis geld door de coronacrisis te helpen. Bovendien wilden ze geen Europese belastingen en gezamenlijke leningen of euro-obligaties. 

Helaas. De vrekkige vier, later versterkt door Finland, moesten tijdens de top bakzeil halen. De meeste regeringsleiders zagen de top als historisch, maar premier Rutte kon dat woord niet over zijn lippen krijgen. Hij stuurde het debat behendig in de richting van een overwinning die hij wel boekte, namelijk de korting op de Nederlandse afdracht aan Brussel.

Rutte werd de voorman van een beperkt aantal landen dat bleef hameren op liberale beginselen als multilateralisme, economische hervormingen, de rechtsstaat en de internationale rechtsorde. Daarnaast moeten ze weinig hebben van geldverspilling en eisen ze dat zuidelijke lidstaten hun economie op orde krijgen.

Economische voordelen 

De European Council of Foreign Relations onderzocht wat de inwoners van de vrekkige vier drijft. Een opmerkelijke conclusie is dat zij helemaal niet zo vrekkig zijn. Want tachtig procent van de ondervraagden vond niet dat de EU te veel geld voor de bestrijding van de economische gevolgen van de coronacrisis uitgeeft. Ze zijn vooral bezorgd over mogelijke corruptie en verspilling.

Een andere opmerkelijke conclusie is dat vier van de tien inwoners van deze landen denken dat de invloed van hun land in de EU is afgenomen. Dit blijkt hun vertrouwen in het herstelfonds aan te tasten. Bijna de helft van de Nederlanders vindt dat dit fonds kwaad bloed zet. Tegelijkertijd zijn ze niet tegen de EU. Integendeel. De meerderheid blijkt heel goed te zien dat de EU economische voordelen biedt en het reizen makkelijker maakt.

Onnodig te zeggen dat de negatieve gevoelens groter zijn bij de PVV-stemmers dan bij andere partijen. Voor Forum voor Democratie geldt hetzelfde, maar die partij speelt nu even geen rol van betekenis meer.

Speelbal

Dat ongeveer de helft van de Nederlanders vindt dat vooral tijdens de pandemie de invloed van hun land is afgenomen, klopt. Dat komt omdat we onze maatjes zijn kwijtgeraakt. De typisch liberale waarden werden door de Britten gedeeld. Maar door de brexit is Nederland zijn belangrijkste partner in de EU kwijt. Bovendien was het Verenigd Koninkrijk een soort Amerikaans bruggenhoofd in Brussel. Door Trump werd dat ook verleden tijd.

Zonder steun van de Britten en de Amerikanen kan Nederland onmogelijk een tegenwicht vormen tegen de Duitse en Franse macht en dreigt het de speelbal van deze grootmachten te worden. Dus was het idee van een alliantie met de zuinige vier niet gek.

De European Council of Foreign Relations stelt nu voor om deze alliantie om te dopen tot ‘hervormingsgezinde vijf’. Die moet het voortouw nemen in de strijd tegen verspilling en corruptie, inzetten op vergroening, meer begrotingsdiscipline en de aanpassing van de EU zelf. Dat vereist wel dat hun leiders met een nieuw verhaal over de EU komen. Helaas bleek Rutte de afgelopen jaren daartoe niet in staat.

Rob de Wijk is hoogleraar internationale relaties en veiligheid aan de Universiteit Leiden en oprichter van het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies (HCSS). Hij schrijft wekelijks over internationale verhoudingen. Lees zijn columns hier terug. 

Killer Robots, oftewel zelfdenkende wapens, kunnen beslissingen maken over het doden van mensen. Dat is gevaarlijk, stellen 170 wetenschappers in een open brief aan het kabinet. Volgens hen moet Kunstmatige Intelligentie begrensd worden. In Dit is de Dag brengt strategisch analist Patrick Bolder de nodige nuance aan in het debat en gaat hij in gesprek met Lambèr Royakkers, Hoogleraar Ethiek & Techniek aan de TU Eindhoven.

Luister het gesprek hier.