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.

Library

Date

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

Search

Research Topics

IMCCS: Climate and Security in the Indo-Asia Pacific

12 Aug 2020
The Expert Group of the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS) released a new report, “Climate and Security in the Indo-Asia Pacific”, urging leaders to make climate change a security priority in the Indo-Asia Pacific. This unprecedented report clearly outlines how climate change is already affecting the security situation in the Indo-Asia Pacific […]
Learn more

Third Offset Strategy: Reacting to Risk or Becoming Blindsided?

11 Aug 2020
The character of war is changing, and the long-held U.S. superiority is under threat. New weapon systems require investment in modern defenses, but does absolute reliance on technology make our Alliance safer, or are we fooling ourselves and leaving open vulnerabilities? This snapshot by Patrick Bolder and Dorith Kool provides some insights and food for […]
Learn more

In a State of Flux: Maritime Order in the Indian Ocean

21 Jul 2020
While many fixate on the South China Sea, the vast Indian Ocean region (IOR), stretching from East Africa to South East Asia, and down to Australia, has become a tense multipolar security space. Foreign military facilities and naval forces are proliferating around the Arabian Peninsula, writes HCSS Subject matter expert Richard Ghiasy in a new snapshot.
Learn more

Divided We Stand? Towards Post-Corona Leadership

3 Jul 2020
The global challenges caused by the Covid-19 crisis call for a combined effort of nations worldwide; however, the pandemic unfolds against the backdrop of a world that is increasingly characterized by great power competition. This new paper by HCSS and DISCvision highlights possible future interplays between nations in the aftermath of the corona crisis. Comparing […]
Learn more

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A Framework to Assess Security Sectors’ Potential Contribution to Stability

22 Jun 2020
State fragility presents an increasing global security threat, but security sector reform (SSR) missions have met with mixed results. A new HCSS report by Dorith Kool and Tim Sweijs lays out a framework to assess security sectors’ potential contribution to stability.
Learn more

De Geopolitieke Gevolgen van de Coronacrisis

15 Jun 2020
In een nieuwe notitie gaat Rob de Wijk in op de geopolitieke effecten van Covid-19, de gevolgen voor de veiligheid en hoe Nederland hierop kan reageren.
Learn more

A Classic Dilemma? The choice between renovation and innovation in Dutch defense planning

26 May 2020
This snapshot considers the path forward for Dutch defense planning. While the Netherlands has a relatively small defense budget, wise investment in innovation for the future will allow these funds to go a long way in preparing for coming developments in warfare, especially as the coronavirus crisis highlights the need for better governmental budgeting. In […]
Learn more

Strategic Alert: Space

18 May 2020
The economic relevance of space is growing, and interstate competition is heating up. Satellites are key to the Netherlands’ military capabilities, and space is also likely to play a role in the global energy transition. Our new strategic alert explores the threats and opportunities of space from the Dutch perspective.
Learn more

Policy Brief: Measuring the Impact of the Lifestory Approach on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism

13 May 2020
This policy brief discusses the methodology for assessing the impact of the lifestory approach on preventing and countering violent extremism. It recommends a mixed-methods approach of qualitative and quantitative elements including interviews, ethnographic observations, questionnaires, and project activities reception. Using these methods to explore the impact of the lifestories on violent extremists, directly affected individuals, […]
Learn more

Measuring the Impact of the Lifestory Approach on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism

12 May 2020
Lifestory videos, which are the personal stories of affected individuals, can be very persuasive in changing attitudes and thus reducing violent extremist sentiments. However, it is important to be able to gauge how effective lifestories have been as an approach to reducing extremism in a community. Therefore, this report lays out a methodology for assessing […]
Learn more

Technical Guidelines for Lifestory Videos: The Case on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Disinformation

5 May 2020
This report lays out guidelines for creating lifestory videos to assist in producing high-quality, consistent media with a coherent message. It specifies ideal script/video structure and other technical aspects, such as video shooting, filming locations, imagery, clothing, video length, language and subtitles, music, audio, and translations. The audiovisual format of lifestories can be highly informative […]
Learn more

Policy Brief: A Lifestory Strategic Communications Framework: The Case on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Strengthening Resilience

30 Apr 2020
This policy brief discusses how to design strategic communications campaigns to prevent and counter violent extremism using lifestory narratives. It focuses on the most effective choices to make when producing and disseminating lifestories in regard to audience, goals, media, and typology. It recommends treating the whole society as the audience, aiming to reduce tensions in […]
Learn more

A Lifestory Strategic Communications Framework: The Case on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Strengthening Resilience

29 Apr 2020
Lifestory narratives can be a highly effective tool in efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism. These narratives are authentic personal stories told by those whose lives have been touched by extremism, and through sharing them it is possible to promote understanding and empathy among different members of the affected community, thus building resilience and […]
Learn more

Artificial Intelligence Tools versus Practice in Conflict Prediction: The Case of Mali

29 Apr 2020
There have been significant developments in the field of conflict prediction methods, with many new tools and models available for researchers. However, the effectiveness of these methods and their potential utility in real-world applications still needs to be tested. Many traditional early warning tools are broad, looking at only national or international trends, which makes […]
Learn more

Policy Brief: Countering and Preventing (Non) Violent Extremism: Research and Fieldwork Challenges

24 Apr 2020
This policy brief outlines some of the challenges researchers face in the field when working to counter and prevent (non)violent extremism. It focuses on five problematic areas: accessing the targeted communities, security risks, politicization of violent extremism, collaboration with local and international actors, and work-life balance and trauma. It offers suggestions for mitigating these risks.
Learn more

Coal's Paradox: A Source for Renewable Technology

23 Apr 2020
While most EU member states have achieved a reduction in carbon emissions, the Netherlands has seen an increase from 1990 levels. Despite pledging to reduce its carbon footprint, the country continues to have a heavy reliance on coal to support the high energy needs of its growing population. In order to reduce the environmental impact […]
Learn more

Countering and Preventing (Non) Violent Extremism: Research and Fieldwork Challenges

23 Apr 2020
This report outlines the challenges facing researchers as they engage with local communities in countering and preventing violent extremism. It focuses on interviews using the lifestory approach as well as the snowball sampling technique and the difficulties arising when using these methods. Some of the main problems for field workers to grapple with are first […]
Learn more

COVID-19 and world peace: An overture to a new era or business as usual?

21 Apr 2020
The sudden and severe onset of the COVID-19 crisis has shaken nations domestically and internationally as countries navigate the balance of cooperating to fight the epidemic while staying competitive. In response to the outbreak, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a ‘global ceasefire’ among nations in order to focus on fighting the virus, an optimistic […]
Learn more

Moving Towards Circularity in Western Europe

16 Apr 2020
As climate change accelerates and global trade flows become more volatile, European countries grapple with their resource dependencies and try to become more self-sufficient. In light of developments such as the EU Green Deal, the Netherlands continues the path towards closing its consumption and production cycles, aiming to achieve a circular economy by 2050. However, […]
Learn more

The COVID-19 pandemic: two waves of technological responses in the European Union

15 Apr 2020
On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a novel coronavirus COVID-19 a matter of Public Health Emergency of International Concern.  Seeing the rapid growth of infections and deaths, governments worldwide were quick to implement a variety of measures. Among them, technological solutions in the form of anonymized phone location tracking and contract tracing […]
Learn more

Effective Stakeholder Cooperation during the Lifecycle of Robotic and Autonomous Systems

31 Mar 2020
Robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) upend the traditional relationship between the military and the private sector. While cooperation remains necessary between these stakeholders, the forms it takes must be adapted to fit the RAS development process.  This paper explores stakeholder relations at various stages of the non-linear RAS life cycle: development, integration, and use. In […]
Learn more

Pandemic Mitigation in the Digital Age: Digital Epidemiological Measures to Combat the Coronavirus Pandemic

27 Mar 2020
As the current coronavirus pandemic proceeds, several governments have already utilized digital epidemiological tools to combat the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with some early successes. The role of user-based and provider-based data collection, and in particular location data, has characterized the mitigation strategies of some of the most effective national responses. These measures may […]
Learn more

Gaat de Coronacrisis de wereld veranderen?

25 Mar 2020
Het coronavirus luidt vermoedelijk niet het einde van de mondialisering in. Daarvoor zijn de interdependenties te groot en de mondiale bevoorradingsketens te complex. Bovendien is Europa, dus ook Nederland, voor zijn overleven grotendeels afhankelijk van wat er in het buitenland wordt geproduceerd en aan grondstoffen wordt gedolven. Wel kan de crisis het proces van slowbalisation […]
Learn more

Managing RAS: The Need for New Norms and Arms Control

17 Mar 2020
This paper is a collaboration with Clingendael authors Hugo Klijn and Maaike Okano-Heijmans, with contributions from Bianca Torossian. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and rapid technological developments, the debate on governing autonomous weapons is gaining momentum – both in the Netherlands as well as in other countries. Discussions are complicated, however, because of wide variations in […]
Learn more

© The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies