How Do We Build a Dutch War Economy?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the vulnerability of supply chains that have already been revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the strategic use of export controls have made Europe think about the desirability and feasibility of a so-called ‘war economy’. French President Emmanuel Macron called for the establishment of a European war economy after the invasion of Ukraine. However, a war economy does not have a tight definition or direct power button. It involves a series of measures to make a society more resilient in an escalating safety context. These can be implemented in different phases, even before there is actually war. A ‘war economy’ would involve state intervention in this context to prioritize military production in response to challenges such as European strategic autonomy, continued military support for Ukraine and strengthening resilience amid geopolitical tensions. In addition, the growing threat of hybrid activities, which blur traditional frameworks between war and peace, also plays an important role in these discussions.