JASON
Institute for Peace and Security Studies
Activities
About Us
Publications
Podcast
For over 50 years, the JASON Institute for Peace and Security Studies has been engaged in informing students and young-professionals – the leaders of tomorrow – on matters of international peace and security.
MOST RECENT
We are excited to announce the release of the 50th edition of the JASON biannual magazine: Changing Ideas of Security. This magazine investigates how security, as we once knew it, continues to be redefined and reimagined in today’s rapidly changing geopolitical environment. Join us in our exploration and interpretation of some of the most pressing security developments for global peace, stability and justice.
A special thanks to the JASON Editorial Committee, Jordan Ramsay for the graphic design work and this edition’s writers: Aiyana Vittoria Amplatz, Alisa Hoenig, Claudia Ferrotti, Daniel Somart, Ebba Lewenhaupt, Jonathan Verkuil, Judith Bruchhaus, Michael Meyer, Sam Soeterhoerst and Sara Lehtiniemi.
MOST RECENT
Podcast
Extremisms, Tale As Old As Time
What is a conspiracy theory? Are conspiracy theories fueling extremism? And how are these theories pulling people toward radical ideas?
Join us for the latest episode of the Jason Institute podcast, where our host, Cristina Pessina, sits down with Professor Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen, a behavioral scientist who specializes in conspiracy theories, unethical behavior, and radical ideologies. Together, they investigate what makes a conspiracy theory, why these ideas develop, why they spread, and why so many people today are embracing them, sometimes with dangerous consequences.
This episode explores the powerful impact of the “us vs. them” mentality, examines the roles of social media, and the responsibility political leaders and pop culture figures might have in amplifying these beliefs. What makes conspiracy theories so captivating? Is there anything we can do collectively to curb their spread, or are we on a path we can’t escape?
Tune in to explore one of today’s most urgent and rapidly evolving security challenges.
With: Professor Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen
Prof. Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen is a behavioral scientist specializing in radicalization, extremism, and conspiracy thinking. He is an Associate Professor at VU Amsterdam, Senior Researcher at NSCR, and Endowed Professor at Maastricht University. His work focuses on conspiracy theories, unethical behavior, and radical ideologies. He has published in top journals and authored books like The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories and HOAX. Awarded the ISJR Early Career Contribution Award in 2006, he also served as ISJR president (2016–2018) and is a frequent media contributor.
YOU ARE INVITED
Activities & Events
The Activities Committee (AC) JASON regularly organizes all kinds of events such as lectures or visits. Stay tuned to find out what we’ll be doing in 2023!
The impact of the current security challenges on the international community – especially in today’s globalized and multipolar world – are rather unprecedented and highly significant.
JASON regularly organizes exclusive events with leading (international) security experts and stakeholders in order to provide a much needed platform for constructive dialogues. Furthermore, we are engaged with publishing our own quarterly magazine which contains sophisticated articles written by both young-professionals as well as prominent academics in our field. Hence, through these activities JASON tries to challenge students and young-professionals – regardless of their sex, age, descent, cultural and religious beliefs – to think about the impact of current international peace and security issues.
BRIEF HISTORY
JASON was founded in 1975 by Rio Praaning and Willem van Eekelen on a commitment to provide value-free and sophisticated insights on matters of international peace and security. After close collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs JASON, or Jong Atlantisch Samenwerkingsorgaan Nederland, was born.
During its initial years of existence the activities of JASON mainly focussed on peace and security issues within the Transatlantic domain. However as a result of the changing global geopolitical climate, JASON gradually expanded its scope to international security in the broadest sense of the word. Nowadays, JASON is one of the largest institutes within its discipline in the Netherlands.