Humanitarian issues
The civilian population often suffer in humanitarian crises, regardless of whether these are conflicts created by human beings or natural catastrophes.
The international humanitarian assistance apparatus is made available in crises where the local state apparatus lacks the will or capacity to help the population. Protection of civilians in (post-)conflict situation is a central research area at NUPI. Our research concerning humanitarian issues is both academic and practical.
Among the questions we seek to answer are these:
- What causes humanitarian crises, and what solutions are available?
- How is the humanitarian assistance apparatus composed?
- What are local perspectives on humanitarian principles?
- What effects do the global humanitarian principles have?
- What is the linkage between politics and practice in humanitarian assistance?
- - and the between politics and a-political, neutral humanitarian principles?
NUPI is a partner in the Norwegian Centre for Humanitarian Studies, together with CMI (Bergen) and PRIO (Oslo). The Centre works to coordinate research on humanitarian questions, and to serve as a bridge-builder for humanitarian actors and the authorities.
News about humanitarian issues
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The hidden consequences of Covid-19
1 Mar 2021It is no secret that the consequences of the pandemic we are now in the midst of, are enormous. But did you know that covid-19 may contribute to a reversal of the global work on women's rights? Or that it may lead to a dramatic decrease in peace operations?
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NUPI replaces NRK P2's 'Ekko' this week
7 Dec 2020NUPI has produced ten hours of high quality radio about foreign policy and international relations. The programs will air on NRK P2 during week 50, Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 11.00. Tune in!
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What's next for the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS)?
29 Oct 20202020 marks the 20th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325. But the important Women, Peace and Security agenda seem to have had a backlash in recent years.
Publications about humanitarian issues
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Publication
: Popular scientific article
Education as Activism in the Syrian Civil War
2021The Syrian Civil War has witnessed grassroots mobilization for education combined with agendas of political resistance. The article explains why education lends itself to activism in the face of extreme adversity. -
Publication
: Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Afterword: International Organizations and Technologies of Statehood
The afterword discusses the contributions to the symposium by drawing links to cognate fields such as international relations, international law, and organisational studies. It reflects on the many insightful observations and arguments in the different contributions, and points to areas for future research,... -
Publication
Performing Statehood through Crises: Citizens, Strangers, Territory
This article applies the growing International Relations literature on state performance and performativity to the question of how practitioners categorize different kinds of crises. The aim is to add value to the crisis literature by paying more attention to how performances are staged for multiple...
Research projects about humanitarian issues
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Foto: Kyrre Lien/NTB Scanpix
Research project
Reference group for Norway's membership in the UN Security Council
2021 - 2022 (Ongoing)Norway has a seat in the UN Security Council in 2021 - 2022. Through this project we will facilitate meetings with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss important strategic issues.
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Photograph: EU media library
Research projectCOOPERATION: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President og the AU, Moussa Faki Mahama.
Shaping a New Africa-Europe Relationship for a post-Covid-19 global order
2020 - 2021 (Ongoing)This collaborative project between NUPI, ACCORD and ECFR aims to stimulate and enrich the dialogue in Africa and Europe on the underlying geopolitical, Covid-19, peace and security and other key developments...
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Foto: John Taggart/Reuters/NTB Scanpix
Research project
China and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (CHINSDG)
2018 - 2019 (Completed)What are Chinese priorities in relation to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and how do Chinese actors promote their interests and prospects for international cooperation?