Publications

Over the years, HCSS has built up an extensive archive of reports, monitors, papers and other publications. We disseminate the results of our research as broadly as possible to benefit the public good. Use the advanced search functions below to browse through our research library, most of which is available as free PDF downloads.

12 May 2022
Europe is heading for a climate neutral future. For a smooth phase out of fossil fuels and their replacement with affordable low-carbon energy, governments need to support domestic industries in their transition and in setting up new supply chains.
4 May 2022
Europese staten hebben zich in de afgelopen jaren steeds meer laten zien in de Indo-Pacific. Het meest in het oog springende voorbeeld was de tocht van de Britse Carrier Strike Group, waar het Nederlandse fregat Evertsen deel van uitmaakte. De groeiende Europese rol ontwikkelt zich te midden van snel toenemende spanningen in de regio. Volgens Paul van Hooft dwingt dat Europa, mede door de Russische invasie in Oekraïne, tot het maken van moeilijke keuzes.
2 May 2022
How do wars end? Tim Sweijs and Mattia Bertolini consider what we can learn from past war terminations: how long they last, how they end and factors that contribute, if they relapse and what this means for the Russia-Ukraine war.
20 Apr 2022
In information warfare, non-kinetic, information-driven capabilities are employed to target human cognition, seeking changes in attitudes, perceptions and behaviour. The emphasis is on manipulating the information flow. At its core are behavioural influencing tactics that exploit flaws in human cognition. This paper sets out a number of crucial tactics that have proven effective at doing just that.
14 Apr 2022
On 31 March, President Biden signed an executive order to invoke the United States Defense Production Act (DPA) to alleviate shortages of critical minerals needed for defense and energy purposes. What does this mean for players in the critical minerals supply chain, and will it help the U.S. government close the gap with industry leader China and gain more control of its own critical minerals supply chain? Find out in the latest Op-Ed by HCSS Strategic Advisor Energy & Raw Materials Jeff Amrish Ritoe.
8 Apr 2022
The People's Liberation Army is trying to become a “world class” military by leveraging the technological innovations of the 4th industrial revolution. In 2022, China still struggles with important military-technological gaps. Beijing should not be allowed to catch up with the help of European knowledge and technology.
6 Apr 2022
The emergence of cyberspace provides small and medium powers with a strategic weapons capability that historically has been beyond their reach. This report explores how this capability can become an indispensable tenet of the deterrence posture of small and medium powers.
5 Apr 2022
How can the European tank storage sector adapt to the changing energy landscape and emerging geopolitical dependencies up to 2030? This paper by Irina Patrahau, Michel Rademaker, Lucia van Geuns, Sarah Ojukwu and Philip Geurts analyzes the mid-term outlook (2030-2035) for tank storage by examining European and global energy ambitions in times of a changing geopolitical world.
30 Mar 2022
The specific causal mechanisms linking climate change to (violent) conflict onset remain under researched. The obscurity surrounding climate change’s links to violent conflict also hinders the development of targeted policy interventions at a time when the impact of such conflict is on the uptick. In our latest study, Tim Sweijs, Marleen de Haan and Hugo van Manen contribute to this gap by presenting seven climate-related conflict pathologies.
28 Mar 2022
The yearly report by the Clingendael Institute and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) analyses the most important trends and developments in the international regimes that form the international order, taking stock of the world of today and tomorrow. The focus of this report is identifying policies and partners for the Netherlands and EU that will further the goal of fostering strategic autonomy. The context for this process is an international system characterized by accelerating great power competition and eroding multilateral institutions.
24 Mar 2022
What role should Europe play in the Indo-Pacific? The new HCSS report “Guarding the Maritime Commons: What role for Europe in the Indo-Pacific" by Paul van Hooft, Benedetta Girardi, and Tim Sweijs looks to answer that question.
23 Mar 2022
European countries have the capability to make a meaningful contribution to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, argues Stephan Frühling. European countries should deliberately use any military presence East of Singapore for deterrence signaling.
22 Mar 2022
Graphite is a critical mineral for governments in Europe and the United States, given its importance to the energy transition and high supply risk. Technologies that enable the decarbonization of transport and steel production, i.e., electric vehicles and electric arc furnaces, rely heavily on a consistent supply of high-quality graphite, leading to an exponential growth in the demand for graphite over the coming decades.
15 Mar 2022
Het Volksbevrijdingsleger probeert met de technologische innovaties van de 4e industriële revolutie de militaire koppositie te pakken in de wereld. Anno 2022 worstelt China juist nog met een belangrijke militair-technologische achterstand. Deze mag niet ingelopen worden met behulp van Europese kennis en technologie. China’s indrukwekkende militaire opkomst, heeft namelijk vergaande gevolgen voor Europese veiligheid, betoogt HCSS China-analist Joris Teer.
14 Mar 2022
In 2021, Germany jumped its shadow by sending the frigate FGS BAYERN to a 7-month Indo-Pacific deployment. Johannes Peters highlights what this means for Germany’s security role in the future of this region, in the 6th paper of our Guarding The Commons series.
10 Mar 2022
South Korea’s hedge is less likely to transform into overt balancing against China over the short-term via multilateralizing cooperation with European partners, Kuyoun Chung (Kangwon National University) argues, as both South Korea and Europe share an interest in an open and secure Indo-Pacific.
9 Mar 2022
By redefining the approach to Maritime Security, the EU Indo-Pacific strategy constitutes a useful strategic framework which, although not decisive, could provide the basis for an effective European policy and presence in the Indo-Pacific, Frédéric Grare and Mélissa Levaillant argue in the 4th paper of our Guarding The Commons series.
9 Mar 2022
Op woensdag 9 maart zal de Vaste Kamercommissie voor Economische Zaken en Klimaat een rondetafelgesprek “Russisch Gas” houden over de huidige ontwikkelingen op de gasmarkten, met name de afhankelijkheidspositie van Rusland. HCSS energie expert Jilles van den Beukel is daarbij (virtueel) aanwezig om mogelijke vragen te beantwoorden. Samen met Lucia van Geuns schreef hij deze korte position paper voor de Kamerleden.
3 Mar 2022
The energy transition will change the architecture of economies by gradually replacing the traditional types of fuels that power our societies with new energy carriers. Tank storage companies are essential players in our energy, manufacturing, and food industries. The tank storage sector supports a complex network of actors, from domestic industry players to residential users and international traders. This paper outlines the current role of the tank storage sector in maintaining Europe’s prosperity, competitiveness, and geopolitical position.
22 Feb 2022
We have witnessed a dramatic deterioration in Russian-Western relations in which the ‘harder’ policy options like coercion and the use of brute force are gaining the upper hand on both sides. A broader, deeper and more systematic examination of all – also ‘softer’ – ways in which Europe could achieve its longer-term policy objectives towards Russia may enable policy makers to design an options portfolio that delivers superior value-for-money.
21 Feb 2022
Europeans could play the role of “honest broker” and promote potential cooperation on arms control between the US and China, Tong Zhao (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) argues in his paper.
21 Feb 2022
This report explores various options for the development of a Conflict Early Warning System (CEWS) that can immediately flag countries or regions that face imminent emerging conflict, support strategic and programmatic planning and enhance conflict analysis. It analyses the practices, principles and promises of EW based on a review of academic literature; an analysis of a set of CEWS currently deployed by governments, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, research institutes and expert analysis. It reflects on opportunities and limitations and outlines risks.
18 Feb 2022
Iraq faces an increasingly dire water situation as both the quantity and quality of water continue to decline, impacting the complex dynamics between actors within Iraq’s borders, at the federal, provincial, and local levels. The aim of this study is to shed light on the link between water and conflict in Iraq at the interprovincial, provincial, and local levels in the provinces Basra, Missan, Dhi Qar, and Wasit in the south of Iraq.
17 Feb 2022
What role should Europe play in the Indo-Pacific? The new HCSS report “Guarding the Maritime Commons: What role for Europe in the Indo-Pacific" by Paul van Hooft, Benedetta Girardi, and Tim Sweijs looks to answer that question. Get a first look with this Executive Summary.

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