Niels van Willigen starts as Professor by Special Appointment in Strategic Studies
image: Ruben Verheul
Starting April 2026, Niels van Willigen will join the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences as Professor by Special Appointment in Strategic Studies. This appointment was made possible by the Atlantische Commissie, which established this chair to strengthen the connection between research, policy, and practice, and the Netherlands Defense Academy, which is seconding Van Willigen to the university one day a week.
Niels van Willigen recently made the move from Leiden University to the Netherlands Defense Academy (NLDA), where he is a professor of International Security Studies. He is also a familiar face at the Atlantic Commission, as a member of the editorial board of Atlantisch Perspectief. Van Willigen: ‘My goal is to strengthen the cohesion between education, research, and society. That connection between academic knowledge and practice is incredibly important.’
The chair in Strategic Studies was perhaps never more topical: every day we receive reports of armed conflict, and relations between longtime allies are increasingly being put to the test. Van Willigen will focus specifically on the transatlantic relationship and on Europe’s strategic autonomy. ‘Europe is searching for its place in the world. The relationship with the United States is under pressure, a war is raging in Ukraine, and the threat from Russia on the eastern flank is growing. What does Europe want, and what can it do?’ Van Willigen will examine this ‘at a strategic level’ and translate these insights into a course and the supervision of several PhD candidates. Van Willigen also works closely with the Atlantische Commissie to promote public dialogue on these topics.
Is Strategic Studies about, to quote Von Clausewitz once again, the continuation of politics by other means? ‘Inevitably’, says the professor, ‘this field also has a military dimension. Can Europe ensure its own security? How do we get our defense in order? Where are the opportunities for cooperation with partners outside the European Union, such as Canada and Iceland, but also South Korea and Japan?’ Van Willigen sees great potential in so-called coalitions of the willing: alliances of countries that share common interests and hold the same views on certain issues.
‘At the same time’, Van Willigen emphasises, ‘we must not lose sight of our “broad security”. Security is about more than deterrence and territorial integrity.’ In Van Willigen’s view, the Netherlands would do well to invest in multilateral cooperation, human rights, and development cooperation. ‘“Soft power”, Van Willigen explains, ‘is at least as important as tanks and drones.’
When asked what he brings with him from Breda, Van Willigen explains: ‘I am looking even more to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Think of the practical knowledge my NLDA students, cadets, and midshipmen possess, combined with the analyses that Political Science students are presented with. Of course, we will delve into the academic literature, but there will also be room for guest lectures and field trips. What I also really appreciate about Breda is that learning (and teaching) there is often a matter of teamwork. I would like to incorporate that into my teaching in Leiden as well.’