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.

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From Blurred Lines to Red Lines: How Countermeasures and Norms Shape Hybrid Conflict | Protecting Electoral Infrastructure from Russian Cyberoperations

24 Sep 2020

In 2016 and 2018, both the U.S. and France found their electoral infrastructure under attack from Russian malicious cyber operations. Notably, this included the hacking of the Presidential campaigns of Hilary Clinton and Emmanuel Macron. How should Western governments respond to these attacks? Are there any effective tools they could use to deter such behavior?

From Blurred Lines to Red Lines: How Countermeasures and Norms Shape Hybrid Conflict

21 Sep 2020

Conflicts between states have taken on new forms and hybrid operations play an increasingly important role in this volatile environment. Belligerent powers introduce a new model of conflict fought by proxy, across domains, and below the conventional war threshold to advance their foreign policy goals while limiting decisive responsiveness of their victim. Given these hybrid threats, how should Western states respond? Are there any […]

NATO Symposium Capstone FI

NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept: Key Insights from the Global Expert Symposium

15 Sep 2020

On June 30th, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) and the Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA), hosted a Global Expert Symposium on NATO’s Warfighting Capstone Concept (NWCC), in coordination with NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT). At the Symposium the NWCC Team presented unclassified findings from the Capstone Concept, followed by discussions between experts. Now, HCSS and the NLDA present the key findings of the Symposium.

De Veiligheidsimplicaties van de Pandemie: De Impact van Covid-19 op Europese Veiligheid

20 Aug 2020

Wat zijn de gevolgen van Covid-19 voor de Europese veiligheid? In een nieuwe notitie gaan HCSS onderzoekers Tim Sweijs, Femke Remmits, Hugo van Manen en Frank Bekkers in op de veiligheidsimplicaties van de pandemie voor Europa en geven zij aanbevelingen voor het Nederlands buitenland- en veiligheidsbeleid om deze het hoofd te bieden. Hoe zal de coronacrisis de […]

WPS Working Paper: Interprovincial Water Challenges in Iraq

20 Aug 2020

What can be done to tackle Iraq’s growing water security issues? A new Water, Peace and Security (WPS) working paper outlines that Iraq’s water challenges have security implications at the interprovincial level that until recently received little attention. Read the working paper by Dorith Kool, Laura Birkman and Bianca Torossian here.

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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.

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.

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 […]

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.

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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