Researcher
Helge Blakkisrud
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Summary
Helge Blakkisrud’s main research interests include Russian federalism and centre–region relations, in particular, the development of the institution of governors. Research interests also include Russia's High North/Arctic policy, nationality policy and Russian nationalism, as well as processes of state-building and nation-building in Eurasia, especially in Eurasian de facto states.
Blakkisrud is editor of Nordisk Østforum, a Nordic peer-reviewed journal for Russian and East European studies.
He has been a guest lecturer at the OSCE Academy, Bishkek, since 2008. In 2009–2010, he was a Fulbright Visiting Fellow at UC Berkeley.
Expertise
Education
1996- PhD-programme (Political Science), University of Oslo
1995 Cand.Polit. (Political Science) from University of Oslo. Dissertation: De russiske minoritetene i Estland og Latvia. Minoriteters responsstrategier ved endrede rammebetingelser
Work Experience
1995 Senior Research Fellow/Head of Research Group on Russia, Asia and International Trade, NUPI
2018- Part time position, Norwegian University Centre, St Petersburg
1995- OSCE Election Observer (various elections in Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina)
1994- Editor in Chief, Nordisk Østforum (Nordic Journal of East European and Post-Soviet Studies
1994 Member of the CSSE Mission in Latvia. Leader of the Mission's mobile team
Aktivitet
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Why Ukraine matters
NUPI has the pleasure of inviting you to a public seminar with James Sherr from Chatham House.
Russian nationalism and xenophobia: the regional dimension
Most studies of contemporary Russian nationalism – be it the state-sponsored version or the kinds espoused by the opposition or more marginal fringe groups – are devoted to the federal level discourse. At this seminar, we aim to bring in the regional dimension.
Ukraine in the world
The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, NUPI, has the pleasure of inviting you to a seminar with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ms Nataliia Galibarenko.
Governing the governors: legitimacy vs. control in the reform of the Russian regional executive
"A New Kind of Arctic Power? Russia's Policy Discourses and Diplomatic Practices in the Circumpolar North"
A normal great power? Russia and the Arctic. The Arctic "bad guy" may be intent upon improving its image
Norway's Russia policy: Realistic or idealistic?
How has Norway's policy towards Russia developed over the last 20 year? Is it governed by interests, values or both? And how successful is our Russia policy?
De facto states and democracy: The case of Nagorno-Karabakh
De facto states are often dismissed as 'failing states'. However, in Freedom House rankings of political rights and civil liberties, they sometimes perform better than their parent states – as has been the case with Nagorno-Karabakh. This article examines the development of democracy in Nagorno-Karabakh against a checklist of factors assumed to be relevant: cultural homogeneity, size, existential threats, role of the diaspora, and the consequences of continued non-recognition. Drawing on fieldwork and interviews with central actors, the authors conclude that, contrary to what might be expected non-recognition has played a main role in the democratization process.
Dynamics of de facto statehood: the South Caucasian de facto states between secession and sovereignty
Scattered across the globe there exist a handful of unrecognized statelets. Although some such entities have proven short-lived, others have demonstrated remarkable tenacity. The South Caucasian de facto states – Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh – have existed for almost 20 years now. This article offers a comparative analysis of how these statelets have attempted to consolidate statehood though processes of state- and nation-building. Despite many outward similarities, both ambitions and outcomes have varied greatly. Interestingly, whether the ultimate goal has been independent statehood or status is seen only as a springboard for unification with ethnic kin does not seem to be a decisive point.