Research Interests
Transnational mobilization and civil war
War-related migration and social networks
Regional (in-)security
Peacebuilding and peacemaking
Methodology in contexts of crisis and conflict
Geographical focus on Afghanistan and its neighborhood
Background
Languages
Norwegian, English; basic French and German
Work Experience
2017–
| Research Professor, PRIO |
| 2009–17 | Director, PRIO |
2008
| Guest Researcher, Institute for International Migration (ISIM), Georgetown University |
| 2007– | Associate Fellow, Post-War Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU), University of York |
| 2005–09 | Deputy Director, PRIO |
| 2004–05 | Programme Leader, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (CRPB) programme, PRIO |
| 1999– | Senior Researcher, PRIO |
| 1999–06 | Project Leader, 'Assistance to Mine-Affected Communities (AMAC)' |
| 1998 | Guest researcher (Fulbright Scholar), Department of Sociolocy, University of Chicago |
| 1997–03 | Research Fellow, Department of Sociology and Human geography, University of Oslo.
Project: 'Flight and Social Decision-Making: Forced Migration in Afghanistan' |
| 1995–97 | Research Fellow, PRIO.
Project: 'Common Security in Southern Africa' (17 months) |
| 1990–92 | Director and Agricultural Coordinator, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), Peshawar, Pakistan |
| 1989 | Conscientious Objector, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), Oslo |
| 1983–88 | Farmer, Harpviken Farm, Brumunddal |
| 1982 | Military Service |
| 1981–93 | Farm work, Nedre Berg Farm, Brøttum |
Appointments
| 2017– | Member of the Board of Directors, Global Resource Network on Conflict (GRNC), Washington DC
|
| 2017– | External Board member, Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo |
| 2016– | Member of the Advisory Committee of the joint United Nations and World Bank Policy Study on the role of Development in the Prevention of Violent Conflict. |
|---|
| 2016– | Board member, Research Council of Norway’s Board committee for international issues [Styreutvalg for internasjonale saker] |
|---|
| 2015– | Board member, Division for Society and Health, Research Council of Norway |
| 2015–16 | Member of Norwegian Commission of Inquiry on Norway’s civilian and military involvement in Afghanistan during the period 2001–2014 |
| 2014– | Governing Board member,
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), New Delhi |
| 2014– | International Board member,
Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) |
| 2013– | Advisory Board member,
Norwegian Polytechnic Society |
| 2012– | Board of Trustees member, the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights
|
| 2012– | Advisory Board member,
Business for Peace Foundation |
| 2012–16 | Editorial Board member,
Politics and Governance (Open Access journal) |
| 2011– | Scientific Advisory Council member,
Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) |
| 2010–14 | Programme Council member for the MA programme in Peace and Conflict Studies (PECOS), University of Oslo |
| 2007– | Editorial Board member,
Comparative Social Research (yearbook published by Emerald) |
| 2006–09 | Member of the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (Norway) |
Education
2017
| Senior Executive Course (Sjefskurset), Norwegian Defence University College, Oslo
|
2006
| PhD in Sociology, University of Oslo [Dissertation] |
| 1993–95 | Cand. Polit (M.Phil.) in Sociology, University of Oslo [Dissertation] |
| 1991–93 | Development Studies, University of Uppsala |
| 1987–89 | Cand. Mag, University of Oslo |
| 1984–86 | Management studies, Norwegian School of Management, Gjøvik |
| 1982–83 | Agriculturalist, Staup School of Gardening, Levanger
|
PRIO Projects
Ongoing:
Finished:
Events
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Thu, 22 Sep 2022 08:30-09:30
– The Challenge of Just Environmental Transitions in the Middle East and North Africa - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
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Tue, 05 Jul 2022 18:15-19:45
– Online Roundtable - Energy and Security in the Mediterranean: when East meets West
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Mon, 04 July 2022
– Barcelona Summer School of the Mediterranean and the Middle East
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Tue, 21 Jun 2022 08:30-09:30
– China’s Growing Role in the Middle East: Beyond Economic Engagement - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
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Wed, 15 Jun 2022 08:30-09:30
– Are We Moving toward a ‘Post-American’ Regional Security Dynamic in the Gulf? - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
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Tue, 07 Jun 2022 08:30-09:30
– What Lebanon after the Collapse? - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
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Wed, 11 May 2022 08:30-09:30
– Citizenship and Social Pacts in the Middle East and North Africa - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
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Tue, 26 Apr 2022 08:30-09:30
– The Origins of Islamist Civil Wars - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
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Tue, 19 Apr 2022 12:00-13:30
– The War in Ukraine and Its Impact on Energy in the Middle East - MidEast Lunch Seminar
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Wed, 30 Mar 2022 08:30-09:30
– Rebel Governance in Yemen and Syria - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
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Thu, 24 Mar 2022 08:30-09:30
– Political Economy of Palestine: Critical Perspectives - MidEast Breakfast with Alaa Tartir
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Thu, 02 Sep 2021 15:45-16:45
– The Chance for Peace in Yemen
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Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:00-17:00
– Access to Employment and Social Protection Among Syrian Refugees in Jordan
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02 - 03 Mar 2020
– Preserving Spaces for Dialogue in the Middle East
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Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:30-15:00
– Where is it Worst or Best to be a Woman?
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Fri, 29 Nov 2019 08:30-09:30
– Update from Northern Syria: Humanitarian Response, Impunity and Localization
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Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:00-13:00
– Effective Multilateralism for Regional Stability: Cyprus’ Vision for the Eastern Mediterranean region
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Mon, 18 Nov 2019 12:00-15:15
– Yemen in Context: Past, Present and Future
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Fri, 08 Nov 2019 08:30-09:30
– The Evolving Situation in the Gulf: Contradictions and Opportunities
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Wed, 06 Nov 2019 08:30-09:30
– Iran and Saudi Arabia: Between Enmity and Amity
PRIO started tracking events online in 2007. This listing is not complete. Past events may be mentioned in our news archive.