Over the past few months, the Dutch Government has published several important strategic documents outlining the direction of its international security policy amid the deteriorating geopolitical environment. There is a recognition that threats could come not only from armed conflicts, but also from polarisation, disinformation, democratic erosion, and declining public trust. However, this broad threat analysis is hardly translated into a comprehensive policy agenda. The proposed solutions focus primarily on deterrence, military capabilities and geostrategic competition, leaving non-military aspects of security unaddressed.
Military instruments alone cannot provide lasting security
Together with other Dutch civil society organizations working on peace, conflict prevention and development, we argue that military instruments alone cannot provide lasting security. Resilient societies require much more: trust between citizens and government, social cohesion, strong local networks, independent media, active citizenship and well-functioning civil society organisations. If increased investments in the defence sector come at the expense of social programmes that strengthen societies, this leaves them vulnerable to challenges that military power cannot solve.
We also see risks in the rapid expansion of the defence sector without maintaining safeguards related to human rights, conflict sensitivity, responsible arms export controls and international arms control commitments. This is especially dangerous in combination with de-prioritisartion of conflict prevention, diplomacy and peacebuilding that help to prevent violence in the first place.
A genuinely comprehensive approach
In our joint position paper, we call on the Dutch government to adopt a genuinely comprehensive approach to security. This should include:
- establishing a clearer link between security, the democratic rule of law and social cohesion
- investing structurally in conflict prevention and peacebuilding
- embedding human security as a guiding principle in the security strategy
- strengthening the position of independent civil society organisations
- and fully integrating the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda into security policy.
The joint position is developed by PAX, together with CARE Nederland, Cordaid, Mensen met een Missie, WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform and Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS).
