The Writing on the Wall

The title of this year’s report “The Writing on the Wall” is a reference to the warning of impending disaster in the biblical tale of Belshazzar, King of Babylon, described in the book of Daniel. In it, Daniel reads the writing on the wall as a warning to Belshazzar that his days as king were numbered. Sudden, structural change such as the end of Belshazzar’s kingdom is emblematic of discontinuity, a central feature of today’s world. Power is shifting, technological progress is accelerating, rules are changing. The Strategic Monitor seeks to decipher the writing on the wall, describe the key trends as they unfold, and understand how they shape our future.

Contents

Between Order and Chaos?
The Writing on the Wall

Conflict in Cyberspace

Economic Security with Chinese Characteristics

CBRN weapons

Perceptions of security

Terrorism in the age of technology

Military Competition in Perspective

Hybrid Conflict

In the Eye of the Beholder?

What World do we Live in?

The Netherlands in the world