Rita Augestad Knudsen promoted to Research Professor

Rita Augestad Knudsen started her NUPI career as Senior Research Fellow in the Research group for security and defence in 2016. On 24 September 2026 she was promoted to Research Professor.

An expert committee consisting of Mona Kanwal Sheikh (Head of Unit & Centre Coordinator, Danish Institute for International Studies), Sissel Haugdal Jore (Professor, University of Stavanger) and Johan Eriksson (Professor, Södertörn University) assessed Knudsen’s application.

Their conclusion reads: “On the basis of the submitted material and the criteria for promotion set out in the Rules and Procedures for Evaluation of Competence as Research Professor (SKO 1183) at NUPI, the committee unanimously and indubitably concludes that Rita Augestad Knudsen is qualified for promotion to the position of Research Professor (SKO 1183) at NUPI.”

“It is such an honour to have had my work assessed so thoroughly by the committee and to have been found to have met the criteria for research professor. I would not have gotten here without the decade-long support and base of NUPI and my colleagues here, and am so very thankful to them,” says Rita Augestad Knudsen.

Three research pillars

In her application, Knudsen organised her production into three proposed research pillars: (1) freedom in international politics and law; (2) counterterrorism; and (3) assessment and ideas of risk.

The first pillar is rooted in Knudsen’s background in international and intellectual history and focuses on freedom, self-determination, international intervention, sanctions, and liberal peace.

• Also read: ‘We need to reflect on what “freedom” means to us’

The second pillar concerns counterterrorism and radicalisation, including the conceptual and institutional foundations of counterterrorism policies and their implications for security and individual freedom.

The third pillar focuses more specifically on how risk is conceptualised, assessed, and operationalised in security practices, particularly in relation to terrorism, extremism, vulnerability, mental health, and cybersecurity.

• Also read: Measuring the risk of radicalization – is that really possible?

“Through my research, I have sought to understand key concepts and practices at the heart of international security, politics and law, and what this means for policy and theory. I am looking forward to continuing this work, especially on matters involving technology, security, freedom, and risk. I also hope my new role will even better enable me to support younger researchers, especially ones conventionally marginalised in academia,” Knudsen says.

“Well-deserved promotion”

“Rita is an accomplished NUPI researcher whose wide-ranging and original work has contributed to advancing our understanding of counterterrorism, cyber issues, and international security. She is also a highly valued colleague. I warmly congratulate her on this well-deserved promotion!” says fellow Research Professor and Research Director Kristin Haugevik (NUPI).

NUPI director Kari M. Osland also praises Knudsen’s work, saying:

“Rita’s promotion is well deserved. Her research on freedom, counterterrorism, and risk sets a high standard, and her ten years leading the Consortium for research on terrorism and international crime show what it means to make research count beyond the institute. Independent scholarship combined with close contact with those who use it is at the core of NUPI’s mandate. We are proud of you, Rita. Congratulations!”