Researcher
Helge Blakkisrud
Contactinfo and files
Summary
Helge Blakkisrud’s main research interests include Russian federalism and centre–region relations, in particular, the development of the institution of governors. Research interests also include Russia's High North/Arctic policy, nationality policy and Russian nationalism, as well as processes of state-building and nation-building in Eurasia, especially in Eurasian de facto states.
He has been a guest lecturer at the OSCE Academy, Bishkek, since 2008. In 2009–2010, he was a Fulbright Visiting Fellow at UC Berkeley.
Expertise
Education
1996- PhD-programme (Political Science), University of Oslo
1995 Cand.Polit. (Political Science) from University of Oslo. Dissertation: De russiske minoritetene i Estland og Latvia. Minoriteters responsstrategier ved endrede rammebetingelser
Work Experience
1995 Senior Research Fellow/Head of Research Group on Russia, Asia and International Trade, NUPI
2018- Part time position, Norwegian University Centre, St Petersburg
1995- OSCE Election Observer (various elections in Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina)
1994-2025 Editor in Chief, Nordisk Østforum (Nordic Journal of East European and Post-Soviet Studies
1994 Member of the CSSE Mission in Latvia. Leader of the Mission's mobile team
Aktivitet
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Clear all filtersRegime Development and Patron–Client Relations: The 2016 Transnistrian Presidential Elections and the "Russia Factor"
In December 2016, Transnistria held presidential elections in which, after an exceptionally loud and dirty campaign, the incumbent yielded power to his main opponent. This article explores regime evolution in the breakaway republic through the prism of these elections. First, drawing on the literature on hybrid regimes, we ask what the recent campaign can tell us about regime evolution in Transnistria. Second, arguing that, in the case of Eurasian de facto states, this literature must be complemented by a discussion of the role of the patron state, we then turn to the importance of the "Russia factor." We conclude by arguing that, due to Transnistria's dependency on its Moscow patron, this factor always looms large – but not necessarily in the ways that might be expected.
Book symposium. The new Russian nationalism: imperialism, ethnicity and authoritarianism 2000–2015
From the symposium: 'The New Russian Nationalism: Imperialism, Ethnicity and Authoritarianism 2000–15 is a timely volume that presents readers with a rich and up-to-date analysis of the content of, contestation over, and consequences of Russian nationalism under Putin. The editors brought together the very top names in the study of Russian nationalism from North America, Europe, and Russia, and the end result is an impressive collection of chapters analyzing issues such as changes and continuity and nuances of public opinion in Russia; the (dis)similarities between historical, early post-Soviet, and most recent debates over Russian national identity; the relationship between growing authoritarianism and the recent ethnification of Russian nationalism; the role played by religion, television, economics; and more.'
Stavropol as "Russia's Kosovo"? Nationalist mobilization and public response in a Russian region
Russian nationalism after Crimea is commonly depicted as aggressive and expansionist – but few Russian ethno-nationalists would accept this description. Quite the contrary: they would argue that ethnic Russians as the majority population find themselves under “under siege” from ethnic minorities. A case in point, they hold, is Stavropol Krai in the North Caucasus. In local ethno-nationalist circles this region is depicted as “Russia’s Kosovo,” a glaring example of the Kremlin’s betrayal of ethnic Russian interests. This article presents a case study of the under-researched regional dimension of Russian nationalism. The purpose is twofold: to map regional ethno-nationalist discourse and, drawing on survey data, to explore to what extent this discourse is reflected in general attitudes toward the influx of migrants and plans for own migration. We find that local ethno-nationalists have succeeded in mobilizing support at the national level, but that, despite increased ethnic tensions in Stavropol Krai, few Russians contemplate leaving.
Russia's turn to the East: The Ministry for the Development of the Far East, and the domestic dimension
Russia’s recently proclaimed turn toward Asia is fuelled by expectations of reaping benefits from integrating with the fast-growing markets of Northeast Asia. However, such a geoeconomic reorientation requires a viable springboard in the Russian Far East. For all the talk about Asia–Pacific markets, a key component of the Asian pivot is Russia’s own Far Eastern region, an underdeveloped, crisis-ridden backwater that currently constitutes a ‘double periphery’ – in relation to Moscow, and to the Asia–Pacific (Kuhrt 2012).
Female heroes in a man's world: The construction of female heroes in Kyrgyzstan's symbolic nation-building
This article explores how Kurmanzhan Datka and other female heroes fit into the heavily male-dominated narrative traditionally promoted by Kyrgyz nation-builders. From a reading of state-approved secondary school history textbooks, the article traces the construction of female heroes and discusses how this construction contributes to the gender dimension of Kyrgyz nation-building: What values do these female symbols appear to represent? Which roles have they been assigned in the process of Kyrgyz nation-building? And what consequences may this have for the reproduction of hegemonic gender conceptions?
Small states on the grand chessboard – the case of Moldova
Minister of Foreign affairs of Moldova, H.E. Mr. Andrei Galbur, will give a lecture on the foreign policy objectives of the Republic of Moldova in the current international security environment which confronts itself with an unprecedented number of old and emerging challenges.
Transformation during War: Mission possible. Ukrainian takeaways for West
NUPI has the pleasure of inviting you to this seminar where the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration will talk about the situation in the country.
Regional Reforms in Russia: Public Management Reforms
NUPI has the pleasure of inviting you to a seminar marking the end of the project "Local government budgeting reforms in Russia: Implications and Tensions (BUDRUS)”.
Can cooperative Russian and Western Arctic policies survive the current crisis in Russian-Western relations? (CANARCT)
This project addresses Russia's Arctic policy provisions compared with other states. Can cooperative Russian and Western Arctic policies survive the current crisis in Russian-West...
Caucasus and Central Asia at 25: political and social developments in the post-Soviet space
At this seminar 11 university teams from South Caucasus and Central Asia that have taken part in NUPI’s “Research Beyond the Ivory Tower” project will share their insights on the diverse political, social and economic developments that have taken place across the region.