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Researcher

Niels Nagelhus Schia

Research Professor, Head of the Research group on security and defense, Head of NUPI's Research Centere on New Technology
Niels_Nagelhus_Schia_11.jpg

Contactinfo and files

nns@nupi.no
(+47) 90 40 12 01
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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

  • Cyber
  • Development policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Africa
  • Peace operations
  • International organizations
  • United Nations

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

Publications
Publications
Policy brief

Makt og avmakt i FNs sikkerhetsråd: Valgte medlemslands veier til innflytelse

The UN Security Council consists of five permanent and ten elected member states. The latter is elected on a rolling basis, for two years at a time. In 2021-22, Norway has been one of these elected member states. The research literature often refers to how the Security Council's room for action is limited by superpower interests and the power struggle between the five veto countries: the United States, China, Russia, Great Britain and France. Russia's attack on Ukraine illustrated these challenges. In this policy brief, we take a closer look at how elected member states work to exercise influence while sitting on the Security Council.

  • Foreign policy
  • The Nordic countries
  • United Nations
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  • Foreign policy
  • The Nordic countries
  • United Nations
Articles
New research
Articles
New research

Big EU project to NUPI

From March 2023 NUPI will lead a large EU-funded project on how the EU should navigate multinational cooperation in times of global uncertainty.
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
Articles
News
Articles
News

PODCAST: Er Sikkerhetsrådet i krise?

Har krigen i Ukraina dyttet Sikkerhetsrådet ut i en eksistensiell krise? NUPI-podkasten Utenrikshospitalet gir deg svaret.
  • Security policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • United Nations
Articles
News
Articles
News

Call for papers for a panel at the European International Studies Association Pan-European Conference (EISAPEC 2022)

Want to submit a paper for EISCAPEC 2022? Now is your chance.
Bildet viser en penn
Publications
Publications
Scientific article

Small States at the Top of Global Diplomacy: Different Tactics of Estonia and Norway on the UN Security Council

Op-Ed discussing what elected members of the UNSC can hope to achieve in a setting marked by great power tensions and ineffective working procedures.

  • Diplomacy and foreign policy
  • United Nations
  • Diplomacy and foreign policy
  • United Nations
Publications
Publications
Report

Small States, Different Approaches. Estonia and Norway on the UN Security Council

In 2021, Estonia and Norway serve alongside Ireland as elected European members on the UN Security Council. In this report we ask: Why do smaller states like Estonia and Norway invest time, energy and resources seeking a non-permanent seat on the Security Council? What can they hope to achieve during their period as elected members? And how did Estonia and Norway work – individually and together – to achieve their ambitions in 2021 when they were both serving on the Council?

  • Defence and security
  • Security policy
  • Cyber
  • Diplomacy and foreign policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Regions
  • Europe
  • The Nordic countries
  • Peace, crisis and conflict
  • Conflict
  • Natural resources and climate
  • Climate
  • Global governance
  • Governance
  • United Nations
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  • Defence and security
  • Security policy
  • Cyber
  • Diplomacy and foreign policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Regions
  • Europe
  • The Nordic countries
  • Peace, crisis and conflict
  • Conflict
  • Natural resources and climate
  • Climate
  • Global governance
  • Governance
  • United Nations
Publications
Publications
Report

Digital technology and development

Increasingly, the global challenges posed by digitalization and cybersecurity are emerging as central to the organization of development assistance – with consequences for billions of people in the developing world. The distribution of digital technology and connectivity is occurring at an unprecedented pace, offering new opportunities and contributing to economic growth across the world. While development agencies and donor countries are utilizing such opportunities as a vehicle for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), new societal vulnerabilities are arising alongside them. These vulnerabilities have significant implications in terms of – among other things – freedom of speech, human rights, and modern forms of slavery. This is especially the case in those countries currently making the leap into the digital age, where there is a pressing need for knowledge, education, institution building and experience sharing. Sustainable growth through digital technology is dependent on analogue foundations, with donor countries having an important role to play through development assistance and capacity-building mechanisms. With this in mind, this article looks at the rapid growth in internet usage in sub-Saharan Africa and its implications for governance, cybersecurity and development in the region.

  • Defence and security
  • Cyber
  • Global economy
  • Globalisation
  • Diplomacy and foreign policy
  • Development policy
  • Regions
  • Africa
Digital-Technology-and-Development.png
  • Defence and security
  • Cyber
  • Global economy
  • Globalisation
  • Diplomacy and foreign policy
  • Development policy
  • Regions
  • Africa
The skyline of Addis Ababa's skyscrapers at night in Ethiopia
Research project
2021 - 2025 (Ongoing)

Public–Private Development Interfaces in Ethiopia (DEVINT)

Private actors are increasingly operating in the name of development and in partnership with international development actors. This project (DEVINT) will explore the nexus of private actors and public...

  • Economic growth
  • Globalisation
  • Development policy
  • Foreign policy
  • Africa
  • Human rights
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • United Nations
  • Economic growth
  • Globalisation
  • Development policy
  • Foreign policy
  • Africa
  • Human rights
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • United Nations
Event
15:00 - 16:30
Microsoft Teams
Engelsk
Event
15:00 - 16:30
Microsoft Teams
Engelsk
14. Dec 2021
Event
15:00 - 16:30
Microsoft Teams
Engelsk

WEBINAR: Digital technology and development aid

At this webinar we take a closer look at the findings from the report Integrating Cyber Security into the Digital Development Agenda, with presentations from the authors, Melissa Hathaway og Francesca Spidalieri.

Articles
Articles

Management

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