Concerns about foreign interference

The Netherlands faces a new security threat since the last few decades: Foreign Interference targeted at Dutch people with a migration background. The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) and the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) warn of the growing danger of Foreign Interference (FI) to Dutch society. 

Policymakers are well aware that foreign interference poses major challenges. But what do Dutch people think of these kinds of interference? What underpins their concerns about foreign interference? And to what extent do they support policy against foreign interference?

This Alert draws on data from the Clingendael Foreign Affairs Barometer to assess Dutch people’s views on undesirable foreign interference and policies that should be adopted. The Barometer is a large-scale survey of 23,000 respondents. 

It finds strong resistance to foreign interference and strong support for measures to combat foreign interference. To gain a better understanding, this Alert analyses the precise reasons for the current resistance to undesirable foreign interference. It focuses on foreign interference from Turkey, which is one of the examples best known to the public because of extensive media coverage of related events.

Download Clingendael Alert.

For Dutch language Alert click here.

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About the Foreign Affairs Barometer

Clingendael, together with the research institute Kieskompas, developed the 'Foreign Affairs Barometer'. In this opinion research, we regularly poll as many as 23,000 Dutch citizens to find out how they view international developments and the Netherlands’ foreign policy. Please take a look at the Foreign Affairs Barometer page for previously published results and the topics to follow.