Norway’s handling of knowledge relations with states outside its security cooperation

Written by

Kristin Fjæstad

Senior Research Fellow, head of the Research group on Russia, Asia and international trade

Hans Jørgen Gåsemyr

Senior Research Fellow

Ed.

Summary:

Norwegian authorities have for several years actively promoted internationalization of the knowledge sector. This includes collaboration with authoritarian countries such as China and Russia, which are not part of Norway’s security cooperation. However, in the last few years, we have seen a clear turn towards questions of national security and the status of liberal norms garnering more attention, also with consideration to knowledge relations. We observe this in sharper warnings from the security services, revised legislation and regulations and new guidelines for knowledge collaboration with countries such as China and Russia. In this article we study these changes and discuss their possible implications. Empirically, we build on survey and interview data, and we examine policy documents and media reports on relevant incidents. In terms of theory, we draw on explanations grounded in the geopolitics and securitization literature. We argue that measures that are introduced to protect national security and liberal norms may also limit the operational space for independent research and thus change the parameters for academic freedom, especially in relation to activities with connection to actors from non-allied states. To avoid unnecessarily restrictive conditions, researchers and their institutions should actively demonstrate and communicate how they work to ensure responsibility in their knowledge relations. This is especially important in situations where ethical and security-related challenges are obvious.

Published year: 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23865/intpol.v82.6060
Publisher: Cappelen Damm Akademisk
Page count: 16
Language: Norwegian
Journal: Internasjonal Politikk
URL 1: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3127196
URL 3: