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NUPI skole

Researcher

Wrenn Yennie Lindgren

Senior Research fellow
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Contactinfo and files

wyl@nupi.no
+(47) 904 71 908
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Summary

Wrenn Yennie Lindgren is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of Center for Asian Research at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), as well as an Associate Research Fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI).

Her main research interests are: foreign policy analysis, international relations in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific, the politics and foreign policy of Japan, and Asia-Arctic diplomacy.

Recent research projects have focused on: Japan’s foreign and security policy legitimation; infrastructure power and responses to China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI); Japan’s multilateral engagement, including NATO-Japan relations; identity politics in Sino-Japanese relations; Japan-Russia energy cooperation; Japan’s engagement in Southeast Asia; and alternative alignments in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, since joining NUPI in 2013, Wrenn has worked on issues related to Asia-Arctic diplomacy.

Wrenn currently leads the multi-year project Roads to Power? The political effects of infrastructure projects in Asia (ROADS) , funded by The Research Council of Norway. She also co-leads the international research project ‘Coercive and Emotional Diplomacy in East Asia: Japanese Responses’, funded by Nordforsk, and co-developed and participates in the projects Chinese Anger Diplomacy (ANGER) and China and Evolving Multilateral Craftmanship in the Age of Digitalization (CHIMULTI), both funded by The Research Council of Norway.

Wrenn’s peer-reviewed work has appeared in, inter alia, The Pacific Review, The Hague Journal of DiplomacyJapanese Journal of Political Science, Asian Perspective, Asian Politics & Policy, Polar Geography and Journal of Eurasian Studies. She co-edited the volume China and Nordic Diplomacy (Routledge, 2018) and contributed chapters on Japan to the volume Kinship in International Relations (Routledge, 2018) and The Routledge Handbook of Arctic Security (Routledge, 2020).

Wrenn holds a PhD in International Relations from Stockholm University and master's degrees in International Policy Studies (Monterey Institute of International Studies, U.S.) and Asia and Middle East Studies (University of Oslo). She has extensive fieldwork experience in Japan and was a Japan Foundation Fellow at Meiji University from 2018-2019 and visiting fellow at Waseda University`s Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (GSAPS) in Tokyo.

Expertise

  • Security policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Asia
  • The Arctic
  • Energy
  • Oceans
  • International organizations

Education

2016-2021 Stockholm University, PhD in International Relations

2018-2019 Visiting Researcher and Japan Foundation Fellow, Meiji University, Tokyo

2012-2014 University of Oslo, MPhil Asia and Middle East Studies

2007-2011 Monterey Institute of International Policy Studies, MA International Policy Studies

2009-2010 Waseda University Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Tokyo, Visiting Graduate Student

2008-2009 The Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, Stanford University, Yokohama

2004-2007 Pepperdine University, BA International Studies and French

Work Experience

2021- Senior Research Fellow, NUPI

2017- Associate Fellow, Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI)

2013-2021 Research Fellow, NUPI

2016-2017 Visiting Research Fellow, Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI)

2011-2013 Communication Consultant, Freelance

2011 Junior Fellow, Office of the Rector, United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo

2010 APEC Liaison, Economic Section, U.S. Embassy Tokyo, U.S. Department of State

2010 Intern, Political Section, U.S. Embassy Tokyo, U.S. Department of State

2007-2008 Graduate Research Assistant, East Asia Nonproliferation Program, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies

2005-2007 Teaching Assistant, French Department, Pepperdine University

2006 Intern Analyst, International Affairs and Trade Section, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Aktivitet

Publications
Publications
Op-ed

Do regime differences shape developmental engagement? How China and Japan compete in post-coup Myanmar

The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has left the country significantly isolated on the world stage. Politically, foreign governments have avoided recognizing the junta rulers, although quasi-official engagement is still underway. Economically, foreign investments into Myanmar have dropped by 42% from 2021 to 2022, off levels that had already massively decreased since the 2017 Rohingya expulsion. However, despite the international outcry over the new regime’s open warfare against civilians and the escalating violence in Myanmar’s multi-front civil war, both China and Japan have remained engaged in development cooperation, pursuing ambitious projects for economic corridors and special economic zones (SEZs) that were contracted under the deposed civilian government; in the case of China, even some new projects have been launched.

  • Security policy
  • International economics
  • International investments
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
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  • Security policy
  • International economics
  • International investments
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
Publications
Publications
Scientific article

Anarchy is a Bridge: Russia and China are Pushing NATO and Japan Together

After nearly 70 years of distant relations, security ties between NATO and Japan are flourishing. A number of important initiatives have recently been adopted, including high-level political dialogues, joint military training, and cooperation in science, technology, and cyber security. This article considers recent developments in NATO-Japan relations and in particular their origins, drivers and implications.

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Asia
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  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Asia
Research project
2022 - 2025 (Ongoing)

Arctic Pressures (ArcPres)

Russia’s reinvasion of Ukraine in 2022 precipitated a challenging new chapter for Arctic political and security dynamics. Going forward, security and governance developments in the region will continu...

  • Security policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
  • Climate
  • Oceans
  • International organizations
  • Security policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
  • Climate
  • Oceans
  • International organizations
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
Publications
Publications
Scientific article
Wrenn Yennie Lindgren, Marc Lanteigne

Asia-Arctic Diplomacy a Decade Later: What has changed?

Ten years ago, five Asian states – China, India, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea – joined the Arctic Council as observers. This article discusses how the Asia-Arctic Five’s policies policies and priorities have evolved over the past decade and what their hopes are for the incoming Norwegian chairmanship of the Council.

  • Security policy
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • The Arctic
  • Climate
  • Governance
  • International organizations
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  • Security policy
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • The Arctic
  • Climate
  • Governance
  • International organizations
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
Op-ed

Navigating ASEAN-Myanmar Relations: The Phnom Penh Summit as a Critical Juncture for (Dis)Engagement

This article considers recent internal developments in Myanmar and how they strain external relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It identifies ASEAN’s Phnom Penh Summit as a critical juncture for disengaging the military government, engaging non-political entities and upgrading the 2021 Five-Point Consensus.

  • Security policy
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • Conflict
  • Human rights
  • Governance
  • International organizations
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  • Security policy
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • Conflict
  • Human rights
  • Governance
  • International organizations
Publications
Publications

The Abe Legacy

With the terrible assassination of former Prime minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, an important, but not always uncontroversial, political era in Japan is over. As the longest serving Prime minster, he leaves an important legacy in Japanese politics, but also in relation to the role he wanted Japan to play on the global scene. Based on the 99th Stockholm Seminar on Japan, two invited experts, Dr. Wrenn Yennie Lindgren and Dr. Richard Nakamura, share their views on the international political, as well as economic implications of the passing of Abe in this policy brief.

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • Economic growth
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • Governance
  • International organizations
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  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • Economic growth
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • Governance
  • International organizations
Publications
Publications

Japan ruster opp

(This op-ed is in Norwegian): Japan kan få det tredje største forsvarsbudsjettet i verden, skriver Wrenn Yennie Lindgren og Per Erik Solli i denne DN-kronikken.

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • Asia
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  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • Asia
Publications
Publications
Op-ed

Evolving Japan–NATO Relations in the Leadup to the Madrid Summit

In response to growing security concerns in East Asia, Japan has increased its engagement with NATO at both the organisational and individual member-state level.

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • International organizations
Commentary LindgrenSolli.PNG
  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Asia
  • International organizations
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