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On Monday 25 August, David Snetselaar will defend his PhD dissertation 'Reassembling War in Society: Securing Knowledge, the Economy, and Critical Infrastructure in the Face of Hybrid Threats'. In this thesis, he sheds light on how and why European perceptions of threat and war have shifted significantly in recent years, and what the consequences are.

New European perceptions of threat and war

According to Snetselaar, European perceptions of war and insecurity have shifted drastically over the past decade. The growing assertiveness of powers like Russia and China and the retrenchment of the United States, have been interpreted by policy experts as a sign of the deterioration of the international security order. So-called ‘hybrid threats’ – such as cyberattacks and the spread of disinformation – pose a persistent and complex challenge to European security, and have the potential to escalate into a more ‘conventional’ wars.

This shift in threat perception has led European governments to prioritise national security and defence, as is illustrated by the sharp increase in defence spending. At the same time, it has also led to more subtle changes, such as the implementation of new measures to protect vital processes (including international exchanges in scientific research and education) and critical infrastructure (such as telecommunication networks and harbours).

In his thesis, Snetselaar studies why, how, and with what effect these, often less visible, changes are taking place. He demonstrates how governments, state militaries, companies, universities, journalists, and politicians are working together to address shared interests defined in terms of knowledge security, economic security, and the security of critical infrastructure.

Consequences of shifting perceptions

One of the consequences of these changes, Snetselaar concludes, is a normalisation of (the threat of) war. As a result, society is increasingly securitised and called upon to prepare for the possibility of war. This shows how the threat of war is being woven into the fabric of social and political life. However, Snetselaar cautions that this can also create tensions, such as when security comes into conflict with freedom.

Snetselaar also argues that investment in peace is just as important as preparing for war. Given the current pressures on international cooperation, international law, and international organisations such as the United Nations, he considers this essential.

Prior to his defence, Snetselaar will give a layman’s talk starting at 14:00.