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Researcher

Morten Skumsrud Andersen

Senior Research Fellow, Head of the Research Group on Global Order and Diplomacy
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Contactinfo and files

msa@nupi.no
+(47) 452 45 542
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Summary

Morten S. Andersen is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Research group on Global order and Diplomacy. In addition to a focus on theoretical and methodological aspects of International Relations, his research concerns how relations of power and dominance between states have evolved and been legitimated over time. In this, he focuses particularly on hierarchy and empires and on international conceptual history.

Andersen is currently taking part in the project A Conceptual History of International Relations (CHOIR). He is also applying these research topics to an analysis of Colombian foreign policy and global order for the projects Undermining Hegemony and Evaluating Power Political Repertoires (EPOS), and to foreign acquisitions and investments for the project Consequences of Investments for National Security (COINS).

In 2016, Andersen earned his PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The dissertation is entitled “A Genealogy of the Balance of Power” and is a history of how this concept starts off as a way of preserving a supposed European commonwealth, but then becomes a notion that makes possible the denial of the existence of any such thing as “international society” in favour of a state-centric vision of international affairs. He here shows how that confusing origin and subsequent history defines the parameters of contemporary debates about “the balance of power” in International Relations.

Expertise

  • International investments
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Governance
  • Historical IR

Education

2016 PhD, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Title of PhD thesis: A genealogy of the balance of power.

2008 MSc International Relations; London School of Economics

2006 Bachelor in international politics, University of Oslo/Universidad Externado de Colombia

2003 Latin American studies, Universidad de Costa Rica

Work Experience

2022- Head of the Research Group on Global Order and Diplomacy, NUPI

2008- Research fellow/Doctotal Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow, NUPI

Aktivitet

Articles
New research
Articles
New research

Government allocates NOK 45 million to Geopolitics Research Centre led by NUPI

The Centre will specifically examine the rivalry among major powers like China, Russia, the USA, and regional centres of power. The generated research will significantly aid Norwegian foreign and security policy decisions.
  • Defence and security
  • Security policy
  • Global economy
  • Globalisation
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • Asia
  • North America
  • Global governance
  • Governance
Event
09:00 - 14:30
Marmorsalen på Sentralen, Oslo
Engelsk og norsk
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Event
09:00 - 14:30
Marmorsalen på Sentralen, Oslo
Engelsk og norsk
21. Mar 2023
Event
09:00 - 14:30
Marmorsalen på Sentralen, Oslo
Engelsk og norsk

Norwegian Foreign Policy Conference 2023: Response – Norwegian foreign policy for a new era

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NUPI have the pleasure of inviting you to the Norwegian Foreign Policy Conference 2023, 21 March at Sentralen, Oslo.

Publications
Publications
Scientific article

The unsolicited rocket: a story of science, technology, and future wars

This article investigates the puzzling case of the unsolicited rocket: a Norwegian research establishment successfully developed a weapon system that no one wanted or had asked for that was later widely adopted. We argue that the ‘Terne’ weapon existed not because it was needed based on rational calculations about efficiency, but because of the narratives, coalitions, and competitive dynamics that surrounded it and made it useful. Conventionally, war and technology are often considered distinct ‘things’ with immutable essences, used as variables to explain other phenomena, rather than being examined on their own terms. In this case, we focus empirically on the configuration of sociotechnical imaginaries, and the capacities for action that arise out of it. In foregrounding sociotechnical systems, this is not a case of the ‘militarization’ of civilian society and research in peacetime. Rather, agency lay in competitive networks of narratives and coalitions between technologies, individuals, professions, technological communities, military organizations, and funding bodies, together shaping how ideas and technologies become authoritative and dominant.

  • Defence
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  • Defence
Articles
Articles

Management

Articles
Articles

Research group for Global Order and Diplomacy

In what ways are the structures and contents of world politics changing? How do global power dynamics influence states’ foreign policy – and vice versa? What characterizes Norway’s past and present role on the international arena?
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Global governance
  • Governance
  • International organizations
Sikkerhetsrådet FN cropped.jpg
Articles
Articles

Research group for Global Order and Diplomacy

In what ways are the structures and contents of world politics changing? How do global power dynamics influence states’ foreign policy – and vice versa? What characterizes Norway’s past and present role on the international arena?
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Global governance
  • Governance
  • International organizations
Sikkerhetsrådet FN cropped.jpg
Publications

Mekanismer for screening av utenlandske investeringer. Oversikt over et utvalg land

Etter tusenårsskiftet har åpne økonomier i økende takt satt i gang prosesser for å vurdere risikoen av utenlandsinvesteringer. Bakgrunnen for dette er økende grad av investeringer fra mindre transparente økonomier, frykt for svekket konkurranse blant internasjonale aktører, samt teknologiske endringer som kan gjøre stater mer utsatte. Dette har blant annet fått EU til å vedta en regulering som etablerer et rammeverk for screeningmekanismer (Regulation (EU) 2019/452). Utviklingen de seneste årene - og særlig i løpet av COVID-19 pandemien - er at slike mekanismer ekspanderer, blir mer detaljerte og permanente, og omfatter større deler av økonomien, med lavere terskelkriterier og dermed et økende antall transaksjoner som screenes.

  • Security policy
  • International investments
  • Security policy
  • International investments
Publications
Publications
Scientific article

Norsk eierskapskontroll kan avskrekke utenlandske investorer

Som et relativt lite og åpent land mottar Norge mange utenlandske investeringer. Noen av disse kan skape sikkerhetsutfordinger. «Vi anser dette som en avtale om salg mellom to kommersielle aktører, noe departementet ikke skal eller bør blande seg i», uttalte Næringsdepartementet om at et russisk selskap ville kjøpe den norske bedriften Bergen Engines. Forsvarsdepartementet sa først at sikkerhetsloven ikke var gjeldende, men så snudde de. Nå jobber flere departementer med saken. Dette viser hvor krevende det er å balansere sikkerhetsinteresser og gevinstene av en åpen økonomi.

  • Security policy
  • International investments
  • Security policy
  • International investments
Publications

The Nordic shift: China’s uphill battle for public approval in northern Europe

A recent survey shows that even the champions of free trade in Europe’s high north are reassessing their approach to Chinese investment.

  • Security policy
  • International economics
  • International investments
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • The Nordic countries
  • The EU
  • Security policy
  • International economics
  • International investments
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • The Nordic countries
  • The EU
Publications

Common Fears, Common Opportunities? Czechia and Norway in the changing international context

With long-dominant structures in flux, European states – and perhaps smaller ones in particular – are now forced to rethink their foreign policy approaches and practices. This policy briefs outlines how one small Northern European state, Norway, and one Central European state, Czechia, assess and respond to a changing international political context. While located in different geopolitical settings, and with different histories, political systems and resources at their disposal, Norway and Czechia operate under many of the same international framework conditions. How are Norwegian and Czech officials and policy makers evaluating contemporary developments? What do they identify as the key fears to which they must respond? Which partners and institutional structures have they traditionally relied on – and what indications of change (if any) can we now observe? We find that Norway and Czechia face many common fears – from concerns about the international order and their global sense of place, to challenges to key institutions such as NATO and the EU, and concerning specific issues such as climate change, energy security, territorial security, and how to best respond to migration. We argue that these common fears could provide a springboard to greater cooperation that can diversify Czechia and Norway’s support networks and entrench a greater sense of international belonging for both countries.

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