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Africa

NUPI conducts wide-ranging research on Africa.

In particular we focus on issues related to social and economic development: fundamental questions concerning the conditions for state formation and democracy, as well as specific studies of individual countries and areas. Other important thematic areas include how post-conflict counties can avoid relapse, and the role of international peace operations in such circumstances – not least, the activities of the UN and the African Union.
Building peace through a sustainable environment
Podcast

Building peace through a sustainable environment

Why should we connect the environment to issues of peace and conflict? And in a world of dramatically increased geopolitical tensions, is it possi...

  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Migration
  • Nation-building
  • Climate
  • International organizations
  • United Nations
  • AU
  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Migration
  • Nation-building
  • Climate
  • International organizations
  • United Nations
  • AU
Rethinking radicalisation and resilience in Mali and the Sahel
Podcast

Rethinking radicalisation and resilience in Mali and the Sahel

What does resilience against radicalisation and violent extremism look like in Mali and the Sahel? And which drivers are present for the spread of...

  • Defence
  • Terrorism and extremism
  • Africa
  • Defence
  • Terrorism and extremism
  • Africa
Publications
Publications
Scientific article
John Karlsrud, Malte Brosig

How Ad Hoc Coalitions Deinstitutionalize International Institutions

As ad hoc coalitions (AHCs) proliferate, particularly on the African continent, two questions crystallize. First, what consequences do they bring about for the existing institutional security landscape? And second, how can the trend of AHCs operating alongside instead of inside regional organizations be captured and explored conceptually? To answer these questions, we closely examine the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) fighting Boko Haram and its changing relationship to the African Union (AU). Through the case study and a review of policy and academic literatures, the article launches the concept of deinstitutionalization and how it can be characterized. We identify three features of deinstitutionalization – AHCs can bypass standard procedures for decision-making processes; whittle down established institutional scripts, and shift resource allocations. We detail how the AHCs contribute to changing practices of financing international peace and security operations, with an examination of EU and UN policies and practices. In sum, the paper unwraps the processes of deinstitutionalization and identifies three forms of rationales for this process – lack of problem-solving capacity, limited adaptability and path dependency.

  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Migration
  • Nation-building
  • Insurgencies
  • United Nations
  • AU
International_Affairs_87(5).jpg
  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Migration
  • Nation-building
  • Insurgencies
  • United Nations
  • AU
NUPIpodden#3: Afrikas opprørere - hvem er de?
Podcast

NUPIpodden#3: Afrikas opprørere - hvem er de?

NUPI-forsker Morten Bøås snakker om sin nye bok "Africa's Insurgents: Navigating an Evolving Landscape. Hvem er disse opprørerne? Og hva kjenneteg...

  • Africa
  • Fragile states
  • Insurgencies
  • Africa
  • Fragile states
  • Insurgencies
Publications
Publications
Policy brief

Is liberal internationalism worth saving? Ad hoc coalitions and their consequences for international security

Slow responses and blocked decision-making of international organizations provide opportunities for ad hoc coalitions to fill functional and political gaps. Compared to UN peace operations, ad hoc coalitions avoid gridlock and high transaction costs, they are fast to set up, can be task and time specific, flexible and easily dissolved. However, they also have much lighter human rights and financial accountability frameworks, a patchy record of longer-term impact and can contribute to a more fragmented response to armed conflicts and threats to international peace and security.

  • Security policy
  • Africa
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Insurgencies
Screenshot 2024-02-12 at 09.48.42.png
  • Security policy
  • Africa
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Insurgencies
The Past, Present and Future of Peacekeeping
Podcast

The Past, Present and Future of Peacekeeping

What can we say about UN Peacekeeping after 75 years of operations? In this episode of the NUPI podcast The World Stage, experts give their take o...

  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Nation-building
  • United Nations
  • AU
  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Nation-building
  • United Nations
  • AU
Articles
Analysis
Articles
Analysis

The past, present and future of Peacekeeping

What can we say about UN Peacekeeping after 75 years of operations? In this episode of the NUPI podcast The World Stage, experts give their take on the missions and what their future look like.
  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Nation-building
  • United Nations
  • AU
Kristian  Lefdal

Kristian Lefdal

Former employee

Kristian was a master's student at NUPI, contributing to the Research group on Peace, Conflict, and Development. 

  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Nation-building
  • Nationalism
  • Insurgencies
  • International organizations
  • AU
  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • Conflict
  • Fragile states
  • Nation-building
  • Nationalism
  • Insurgencies
  • International organizations
  • AU
Silje  Balseth
Researchers

Silje Balseth

Master's student

Silje is a master's student at NUPI for the Research group for Peace, Conflict and Development. She is studying Political Science at the Universit...

  • Economic growth
  • Africa
  • Pandemics
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • International organizations
  • Economic growth
  • Africa
  • Pandemics
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • International organizations
Margrete  Seiersnes

Margrete Seiersnes

Former employee

Margrete was a master's student in Human Geography at the University of Oslo and contributed in the Research group for Global Order and Diplomacy...

  • Development policy
  • Foreign policy
  • Africa
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Development policy
  • Foreign policy
  • Africa
  • Humanitarian issues
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