Researcher
Niels Nagelhus Schia
Contactinfo and files
Summary
Niels Nagelhus Schia is a research professor specializing in the intersection of new technology and international relations. He leads the Research group on security and defense at NUPI, and co-manages the institute’s Research Centre for New Technology. With a PhD in social anthropology from the University of Oslo and a fellowship from the New School for Social Research (NSSR), Schia combines deep academic insight with practical experience in global policymaking.
Schia has chaired prominent initiatives such as the Norwegian government's expert group on AI, democracy, and elections (2024–2025), he served as co-coordinator for the reference group on Norway's role in the UN Security Council (2021–2022), and he has been the project leader of several larger research projects. A former Fulbright scholar and board member of the Fulbright Association in Norway, he is also a longstanding contributor to international conferences, United Nations discussions, and working groups.
Beyond his research, Schia is deeply engaged in shaping the global academic and policy landscape. He was co-editor of Internasjonal Politikk, the leading Scandinavian journal on international relations, for nearly a decade (2017–2025). He serves as a member of the Holberg Debate working group, the advisory council of the United Nations Association of Norway, and other forums dedicated to advancing knowledge and dialogue in his field.
Expertise
Education
2015 PhD, Social Antropology, University of Oslo
2004 Cand.polit., Social anthropology, University of Oslo
Work Experience
2022- Head of NUPI's Research group on security and defence
2017- Co-editor of the leading Scandinavian-language International Relations-journal Internasjonal Politikk
2015- Head, NUPI's Cyber Security Centre. 2010 Advisor, Civil Affairs, Policy Best Practices Services (PBPS), UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, New York HQ
2009 Visiting scholar at The New School for Social Research, New York, Leiv Eiriksson mobility programme (The Research Council of Norway) and Fulbright Scholar
2003- Research Assistant / Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow/Research Professor, NUPI
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2012-2016 Board member Fulbright Alumni Association of Norway
2013-2016 Head of Scientific Committee for Fulbright annual research award
Aktivitet
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Clear all filters"Where the Rubber Meets the Road": Friction Sites and Local-level Peacebuilding in Haiti, Liberia and South Sudan
Horseshoe and Catwalk – Power and Complexity in the United Nations Security Council
What people think does matter: Understanding and integrating local perceptions into UN peacekeeping
Turning UNSC Resolution 1325 into operational practise: A cross-country study on implementing Resolution 1325 in peacekeeping and military operations
This report focuses on the integration of gender perspectives in four peacekeeping and military operations: Norwegian participation in the ISAF in Afghanistan (Maymaneh, Fayab province), and United Nations operations in Haiti (MINUSTAH), in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and in Liberia (UNMIL). UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000) is the first resolution ever passed by the Security Council that specifically addresses the impact of war on women, and women’s contribution to conflict resolution and sustainable peace. Although the adoption of the resolution marked a substantial achievement in international politics at the executive level, practical implementation of the content of this resolution and the follow-up resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) has proven more difficult. With reference to the standards listed in the UNSC resolutions two goals in particular seem difficult to achieve: (i) the integration of gender perspectives at all levels of military and peacekeeping interventions and operations, and (ii) the participation of women in the armed forces. This report draws inspiration from the milestone report Operational Effectiveness and UN Resolution 1325 - Practices and Lessons from Afghanistan (Olsson & Tejpar, 2009). Olsson’s analytical framework (p. 20) for evaluating the representation and integration of Res. 1325 at the internal and external levels of a NATO-led and UN-led operation offers a meaningful approach to studies also beyond Afghanistan, and has been used in order to analyze the findings of this study.
Contextualizing peacebuilding activities to local circumstances: Local-level peacebuilding in South Sudan, Liberia and Haiti
Contextualizing peacebuilding activities to local circumstances: Liberian case-study field report
Contextualizing peacebuilding activities to local circumstances – Liberian case-study