Publications
The China-Europe Freight Train and the War in Ukraine:Triumph and Tribulations in Transcontinental Shipping
In this policy brief, Professor Xiangming Chen analyzes the China-Europe Freight Train (CEFT), the flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project, and evaluates its extensiveness, efficiency and adaptability based on recent geopolitical developments, in particular the War in Ukraine.
Liberal halvtime: En lang samtale med Julie Wilhelmsen om Russland
(This podcast episode is in Norwegian). In episode 343 of the think tank Civita's 'Liberal halvtime', Senior research Fellow Julie Wilhelmsen talks Russia and Ukraine with podcast host Eirik Løkke.
Norge må se det nye EU
In this op-ed, Svendsen and Riddervold present the latest developments in the EU, particularly related to health policy. In particular, the authors present and discuss the concept of strategic autonomy and argue that the Norwegian debate about European policies must to a greater extent be based on this very concept.
Hva betyr EU for sikkerheten i Europa?
(This debate is in Norwegian): I forbindelse med Russlands invasjon av Ukraina, har EU fått betydelig anerkjennelse for sine omfattende og resolutte bidrag, ved siden av et NATO som hverken vil eller kan handle militært. Våpenhjelp, sanksjoner og flyktning-koordinering er bare tre stikkord. Thorbjørn Jagland mener at grunnlaget for fred i Europa i tiden som kommer langt på vei vil bli bestemt i relasjonene mellom EU og NATO, mens seniorforsker Karsten Friis ved NUPI sier at EU er på vei til å seile opp som et vel så viktig sikkerhetspolitisk fellesskap som NATO, gitt trusselbildet som hacking, oppkjøp, spionasje og teknologi. Ja, hva kommer EU til å bety for sikkerheten i Europa, sett i et utvidet sikkerhetsperspektiv? Og – hva vil det kunne bety for Norge?
Keeping up with the emerging European Defence Union: synchronising third country participation
Years of underspending combined with off-the-shelf weapons deliveries to support the Ukrainian armed forces has confronted EU countries with a threefold challenge: to replenish stockpiles; replace obsolete Soviet era equipment; and reinforce the innovation of new capabilities. As a matter of urgency, member states have dramatically increased their defence spending, while the EU institutions have proposed a raft of new policy instruments to invest, develop and procure in a joined-up manner. There is now a serious opportunity for member states to meet old and new pledges by overhauling the EU’s defence industrial and innovation regime. But they shouldn’t do so in splendid isolation. The direct involvement of third countries will be necessary to coordinate priorities, foster the transfer of technology and materials, screen for investments by strategic rivals, and monitor the end-use of military capabilities developed across value chains. EU rules and conditions for third country participation in defence industrial and technological cooperation should be developed in such way so as not to signal to the US, Canada, Norway, Japan and other allies and like-minded countries that their companies are no longer welcome on the EU’s emerging single defence market. To suggest otherwise would neither be good for the future competitiveness of the European industry nor for the protection of the EU’s security interests.
The Chernobyl Effect: Antinuclear Protests and the Molding of Polish Democracy, 1986–1990
The 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe was not only a human and ecological disaster, but also a political-ideological one, severely discrediting Soviet governance and galvanizing dissidents in the Eastern Bloc. In the case of Poland, what began as isolated protests against the Soviet nuclear site grew to encompass domestic nuclear projects in general, and in the process spread across the country and attracted new segments of society. This innovative study, combining scholarly analysis with oral histories and other accounts from participants, traces the growth and development of the Polish anti-nuclear movement, showing how it exemplified the broader generational and cultural changes in the nation’s opposition movements during the waning days of the state socialist era.
Recalibration of Norway's development aid to Africa based on Africa's agricultural response measures to the Ukraine war
As the world grapples with the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an adage comes to mind: In every crisis, there is an opportunity.
States of Disorder, Ecosystems of Governance: Complexity Theory Applied to UN Statebuilding in the DRC and South Sudan
Dr Andrew Tchie reviews the book "States of Disorder, Ecosystems of Governance: Complexity Theory Applied to UN Statebuilding in the DRCand SOuth Sudan" by Dr Adam Day.
Technological Determinism and Challenges to Deterrence in Southern Asia
Southern Asian strategic stability is fragile with multiple challenges affecting crisis stability, deterrence stability, and arms race stability. With rapid scientific developments, technological advancements are translating into new advanced military capabilities at a much faster rate. As countries move to achieve technological superiority, they are exploring ways to exploit “gray zones” or areas where their adversaries’ deterrence is the most vulnerable across various domains. Cross-domain coercion adds to the fragility of deterrence. In this environment, India and Pakistan must initiate a bilateral dialogue to discuss South Asian strategic stability with a focus on minimizing the drivers of instability and strengthening mutual deterrence. A joint publication by APLN and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).
UK new Prime Minister and her focus on Africa
Dr Andrew Tchie, on BBC World News, touches on what the relationship between the new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and Africa will be moving forward.