Publish & amplify
Students and young researchers publish their own work and grow their voice with real audiences.
Latest
Next Event
What’s in the name?
Geschiedenis Actueel
Our name – Geschiedenis Actueel – means Current history. Although it might seem contradictory, this is the core idea that drives our initiative. At GA! we aim to acknowledge past contexts and events in order to understand current strategies, policies, and narratives.
Why “GA!”?
GA! = GO!
In Dutch, GA! literally reads as “GO!” — a nudge to engage, analyze, and act.
Our vision
Applied History
Today history only serves as tool for narrative legitimization. Our goal is to change this status quo and make it a central tool to critically analyze current events and inform future national and international developments.
To do so, we bridge tomorrow’s actors, the students and young professionals, with current actors and institutions. This takes place during debates, expert talks, podcasts, publications and magazines where past, present and future developments are studied.
With this mission, GA! aims to foster a more informed, analytical, and engaged society that uses Applied History to shape better policies, governance, and public discourse.
Our own history
History in action, not in archives
GA! ThinkTank was founded in October 2023 by two passionate students enrolled in the Master’s program “International Relations in Historical Perspective” at Utrecht University.
Hugo Abrial was missing a place where students could meet, share their views and debate with professionals on historical developments, using them as a tool to analyze current and future developments. He contacted his fellow student Jelle Timmermans and thus, GA! was born. One year later, Christophe van der Kwast joined the initiative to help the founders structure and expand GA!.
Since November 2024, Geschiedenis Actuell is led by teams of student interns recruited at Utrecht University. This restructuration made possible a rapid and solid growth in GA!’s outreach and activities. As the only student-led ThinkTank working on International Relations and History in the whole Benelux, we have become an incubator for students and young professionals seeking valuable experience on the job market.
This unique position allows us to collaborate with leading actors and institutions such as the Ministry of the Interior, Clingendael and HCSS.
Learn by doing
Work with peers and partners on real briefs and debates. Outcomes over titles — skill, not status.
Make it heard
Join the magazine, podcasts, and events—turn research into formats people actually engage with.
Collaborate & connect
Partner with universities, ministries, and peers to create impact together. GA! thrives on collaboration and exchange.
GA! Timeline
2022
24 Aug 2022
Benjamin Barber — Jihad vs. McWorld (review)
Book review; globalization vs. tribalism.
26 Aug 2022
Henry Kissinger — World Order (review)
Book review; order and hegemony.
04 Sep 2022
Small States — Baldacchino & Wivel (summary)
Key concepts and theories on small states.
12 Sep 2022
Small States — Christopher Browning (review)
Identity and the small-states literature.
01 Oct 2022
Founding of GA! (student think tank)
Launch at Utrecht University; applying historical insight to current affairs.
28 Oct 2022
Finland — a neutral state in a bipolar world
Case study: neutrality and security.
01 Nov 2022
GA! Magazine — Small States
First GA! magazine: role and resilience of small states.
2023
11 Jan 2023
Abstract Expressionism: Art as weapon of war
Art and geopolitics in the Cold War (A. Derksen).
01 Mar 2023
GA! Magazine — Navigating Multipolarity
BRICS and the changing world order.
29 Mar 2023
Reflections on the role of historians in a new paradigm
AI, networks, and historical methods.
01 Aug 2023
GA! Insights #1 — Spanish Elections
Legacy of the Civil War and the role of art.
01 Sep 2023
GA! Insights #2a — Balkans in Limbo (Kosovo/Serbia)
Stalemate and regional impact.
14 Sep 2023
History manipulation — China & the BRI
How history legitimizes the BRI narrative.
15 Sep 2023
GA! Insights #2b — Balkans in Limbo (Global)
Global dimensions of the issue.
01 Oct 2023
GA! Insights #3 — Global Ambitions Unveiled (BRICS)
Impact of the new BRICS configuration.
02 Oct 2023
Conclusion Meeting (02-10-2023)
Key decisions and takeaways (report 04-10).
20 Oct 2023
GA! Insights #4 — EU, Israel & Palestine
The EU’s stance in historical perspective.
01 Nov 2023
GA! Insights #5 — Taiwanese Elections
A breaking point in cross-strait relations?
07 Nov 2023
GA Meeting Notes — November
Minutes — November.
20 Nov 2023
GA! Insights — Special: The Politics of Football
Football as a lens on power and identity.
27 Nov 2023
Spain Today II — Dialogues on (Geo)Political and Economic Strategy
International conference; strategic dialogue.
03 Dec 2023
A Shift in Sino-Taiwanese Relations
Analysis of shifting relations across the Strait.
07 Dec 2023
GA Meeting Notes — December
Minutes — December.
2024
11 Jan 2024
GA Meeting Notes — January
Minutes — January.
15 Jan 2024
GA! Insights #6 — Saudi Arabia & Mohammed bin Salman
Opportunities and risks in the transformation project.
14 Feb 2024
GA Meeting Notes — February
Minutes — February.
15 Feb 2024
GA! Insights #7 — The Second Great Game
Power dynamics in Central Asia.
15 Mar 2024
GA! Insights #8 — Cold War Echoes (Energy)
Energy politics with Cold War echoes.
18 Mar 2024
GA! Meetings & Notes — March
Overview Jan–Mar.
26 Mar 2024
Reflections — Historians, AI & Networks
The role of historians in a new AI paradigm.
10 Apr 2024
Meeting Notes — Transitional Justice
April session on transitional justice.
15 Apr 2024
GA! Insights #9 — Decoding Demographics
Demographic trends and their impact.
15 May 2024
GA! Insights #10 — Transitional Justice (UN & Spain)
Norm-setting and the case of Spain.
15 Jun 2024
GA! Insights #11 — The Pan-African Horizon
History of ideas and influence.
15 Jul 2024
Cold War Legacies #1 — Ukraine
From Cold War to hot war.
01 Sep 2024
The Yamal-Urengoy Pipeline & Soviet-Western European Energy Relations
Historical context for energy cooperation and tension.
12 Sep 2024
Monthly Meeting — Expert Talk with Luuk Pepers
Guest lecture during the monthly GA! meeting.
15 Sep 2024
Cold War Legacies #2 — The United Nations
Crisis and resilience in the multilateral order.
26 Sep 2024
GA! Symposium — The Netherlands at Europe’s Crossroads
International symposium.
10 Oct 2024
Report — GA x Politics&Co Symposium
Joint symposium with Politics&Co.
15 Oct 2024
GA! Insights #12b — Belarus: The Rising Democratic Tide
Civic movement and the democratic wave.
16 Oct 2024
GA Members Insight Night — The Financial Crisis of 1763
A forgotten crisis and modern lessons.
21 Oct 2024
GA! Special Edition — Thesis Issue
Diversity in student approaches to IR.
06 Nov 2024
New Podcast — Transitional Justice (Hugo Abrial)
Intro to the field and the case of Spain.
12 Nov 2024
GA Expert Talk — The Role of Energy in the History of IR
UU Drift, E.0.21.
15 Nov 2024
Cold War Legacies #3 — The Latin American Way
Latin American strategic traditions.
13 Dec 2024
Conference — Spain Today III (GeoPolitics & Energy Transition)
Utrecht University Hall, Belle van Zuylenzaal.
18 Dec 2024
Syrian Standoff
Analysis of the Syrian conflict and shifting regional power dynamics.
2025
06 Jan 2025
Security as Living History
Flagship essay introducing security as a historical process; foundation of the 2025 GA! security magazine.
13 Jan 2025
Student Insight Night — Trump’s Policies: Isolationism in the US
Reading Room, Faculty Club Helios (Utrecht).
13 Jan 2025
The Collapse of Oslo and Israel’s Far-Right Surge
How the failure of the Oslo Accords reshaped Israeli politics and the region’s security horizon.
15 Jan 2025
GA! Insights #13 — Barbary Piracy
Privateering, trade, and security in the Mediterranean.
18 Jan 2025
Trump’s Policies: A Shift Towards Isolationism in the US
Analytical companion piece to the GA! Insight Night; examining the revival of isolationism during Trump II.
20 Jan 2025
Armenia’s Strategy after Nagorno-Karabakh
Strategic analysis of Armenia’s realignment after the collapse of Nagorno-Karabakh.
06 Feb 2025
Explore Naval Warfare — Announcement
Announcement for Expert Lecture by Frederik Mertens.
10 Feb 2025
GA Expert Talk — Naval Warfare (Napoleon → present)
UU Drift Library, room E.0.21.
15 Feb 2025
GA! Insights #14 — From Empire to Enmity
Ottoman legacy in Greek-Turkish relations.
10 Mar 2025
Student Insight Night — Tearing down the memory of the USSR
UU Drift Library, E.0.21 — Soviet mosaics & monuments in Ukraine.
01 Apr 2025
GA! Magazine — Spain in the World
Issue on Spain’s international role.
16 Apr 2025
Expert Talk — Long History of the Global South & Climate
Event post (Africa category) announcing/reflecting on the lecture.
28 Apr 2025
Geopolitics & Economic Security — Shifting Paradigm
Analysis on geopolitics and economic security.
12 May 2025
Student Insight Night — Shaken Allegiance: Canada & Trump II
Reading Room, Faculty Club Helios — alliance stress.
02 Jun 2025
Join us on June 5 — Independent Europe
Announcement for GA×SIB.
05 Jun 2025
GA × SIB — Independent Europe (Event)
Ruppert 033, UU — report & debate on European strategic autonomy.
09 Jun 2025
Join us — Deterrence or dialogue?
Announcement for GA×Clingendael.
12 Jun 2025
GA × Clingendael — Deterrence or Dialogue?
De Zalen van Zeven — NATO strategy: deterrence vs. dialogue.
24 Jun 2025
Deterrence or Dialogue — Analytical Report
Analysis and conclusions after the event.
16 Jul 2025
ANBI status granted (status date)
GA! officially recognized as a Public Benefit Organization.
15 Aug 2025
ANBI — Public announcement
Post: GA! obtained the ANBI status!
01 Sep 2025
GA! Magazine — Dutch Resilience
Magazine on Dutch resilience; supported by BZK.
08 Sep 2025
This week’s headlines — #36
News segment with historical context.
08 Sep 2025
Expert Talk — A Brief History of the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict
Public lecture with Dr. Peter Malcontent at Instituto Cervantes.
2026
12 Jan 2026
GA! Magazine Nederlandse Weerbaarheid
Thematic issue on Dutch Resilience (with support of the ministry of Binnelandse Zaken).
20+
Events
20+
Events
Monthly gatherings, expert talks, and joint symposia. Curious where we’ve been?
70+
Members
70+
Members
A growing network of students and young professionals collaborating on applied history.
3
Committees
3
Committees
From research & writing to events & outreach — pick a lane and start contributing.
3
Years running
3
Years running
Founded in 2022 — growing through partnerships, publications, and public events.
