Collaboration with the Ministry of Defence has long been a topic of debate at Dutch universities. Supporters believe it to be essential at a time when international security and civil resilience are increasingly under pressure, whereas opponents want no involvement whatsoever – or as little as possible – and see dangers in crossing ethical boundaries.
Nevertheless, university umbrella organisation UNL recently signed a declaration of intent to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Defence. The declaration states that ‘today’s and tomorrow’s security challenges call for close collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and universities’ in order to ‘integrate scientific expertise into the strategic and operational challenges faced by the Ministry of Defence’.
It also highlights the importance of the fact that ‘universities in the Netherlands are autonomous institutions’ with ‘academic freedom and scientific integrity as guiding principles’.
FORMS OF COLLABORATION
The stated intentions: ‘to explore successful forms of collaboration aimed at building and sharing knowledge, in order to protect Dutch society and its allies’, and ‘to work together to map out options for collaboration’, including the necessary ‘conditions and prerequisites’.
The declaration of intent came as a surprise to the University Council, as became apparent last week. ‘We were quite taken aback by this’, said Council member Timothy de Zeeuw (LAG) during the Council meeting. ‘We didn’t hear about this through internal communications. If Leiden doesn’t participate in this, what does that mean for us?’
Vice President of the Executive Board Timo Kos stated that the declaration ‘is an exploration of areas in which the universities and the Ministry of Defence can conduct joint research in order to contribute to issues concerning peace and security’. It has been agreed that the prerequisite conditions for collaboration will be the same for all universities. ‘That means academic freedom, university autonomy and open science.’
He also pointed out that ‘the basic principle is that each institution decides for itself whether it wishes to collaborate at all’. Therefore, there is no obligation, nor are there any legally binding agreements. ‘We decide for ourselves whether or not we want to participate, so we’re not simply going to intensify our collaboration just like that. But if collaboration does take place, there will be a level playing field for every institution.’
A SUBJECT OF STUDY
Collaboration between universities and the Ministry of Defence is nothing new. According to UNL, universities have long been conducting research into ‘technical solutions to protect airspace against hostile drones’, the effects of PTSD on veterans, and legal issues relating to war, such as the protection of civilians and the prosecution of war crimes.
This collaboration is not new in Leiden either, said Kos. ‘Traditionally, such collaboration has taken place at the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, where defence is also a subject of study. But the African Studies Centre also has a programme involving PhD candidates and postdocs, focusing on topics such as the involvement of African parties in the Ukraine conflict.’
This was new information for Council member Patrick Klaassen (UB). ‘Could we perhaps gain some insight into everything we’re currently doing with the Ministry of Defence, as a starting point for further discussion?’
Board president Luc Sels replied that the Executive Board could offer insight into ‘typical themes that are covered’. He went on to say that it is always necessary to assess ‘what type of research you permit and which lines must not be crossed’.
According to him, research into civil resilience is easier to justify than military research, which involves weapons development, amongst other things. ‘I’m not saying this will be our policy, but I do want to emphasise that we need to engage in the debate with a degree of nuance. It’s a difficult balance for us to strike – one that we need to approach with a combination of openness and caution.’
He also tried to reassure the Council by citing his former employer, KU Leuven, as an example. ‘It cooperates quite extensively with the Ministry of Defence, but I can say in all honesty: it has always stayed well clear of weapon development and the collaboration has been civilian in nature.’
Finally, Sels pointed to ‘societies where drawing a hard line against collaboration with the Ministry of Defence’ had backfired. ‘In those cases, all democratic oversight of the Ministry of Defence has been lost.’ He did not specify which countries he was referring to.