Giles, what appeals to you in the BA International Studies?
The variety of the programme. No other study mixes four disciplines, using them to analyse specific regions in a global context. The addition of a language as part of the chosen region is also a fundamental part of what International Studies is about. In a time when language instruction is on the retreat in many universities, it is important that we go against the trend and keep this aspect of our programme. I am also very impressed with the Practicing International Studies projects and how they contribute such an important element of practical hands-on problem-solving to our curriculum.

But this should not be about why the programme appeals to me; it should be about why it appeals to so many of our students every year! The high number of incoming students is very encouraging – it shows that the programme is appealing, despite the variety of English-language Bachelors to choose from at Dutch universities. We seem to have a successful formula and we want to keep it that way.

What experience do you bring to the programme?
I have a background in liberal arts, and International Studies is quite close to that. I consider myself multidisciplinary – I began my studies in European Studies, then moved into International Relations, but became bored with that and moved to History. I have always benefitted from this mix of International Relations  and History, it has helped me interpret the world in different ways. I have also been involved in the International Studies programme since it began in 2012 – I taught the first History North America classes, and since then I have taken a Thematic Seminar and a Research Methods class. So I know it from the inside, and I know many of the colleagues who work here – that helps a lot!

What particular challenges do you expect to encounter as the new Chair?
Everything. It is a full-on position, because International Studies occupies a unique position in the university. You are constantly managing not only the programme itself (quality of education, student satisfaction, facilities, staffing, office space etc.) but also our relations with the other programmes in Campus The Hague and the other sections of the Humanities Faculty, and, of course, with the world outside the university. And the university gives me two days to do this! They are kind of 60-hour days, you know….

What is your vision for this programme?
I think International Studies has great potential for several reasons. It’s been going now for 8 years, so it's a good time to reflect on what has been achieved and what can still be done. There are always ways to improve the programme in content and planning. But we can do more. As Campus The Hague grows, we need to keep our programme and our students at the centre of developments. As the largest Humanities BA in Leiden, we have an opportunity to make a strong case for the value of Humanities education in addressing the challenges of the 2020s and beyond. And I want our students to be ‘ambassadors’ for this unique Humanities programme as they move on in their studies and their work. I want to see a Dutch minister president (or an Indian president, or Australian, or Bolivian, or wherever) who is a graduate of International Studies!

Will Trump win a second term?
This is a real possibility. He will use the failed impeachment process to attack everyone and everything that stands in his way. The Democrats have struggled to gather around one single candidate, although perhaps Bernie Sanders can now build  some momentum. But American politics, and the American electorate, are more polarized than ever, making cross-party deals almost impossible on anything. We see this across the global political landscape – just in a time when we need broad thinkers, we see our leaders becoming only more narrow-minded. Just when we need to find our common interests, we see a race to the bottom based on cheap, empty ‘victories’. This is why we need the Humanities, more than ever!