Publications
Det norsk-russiske fiskerisamarbeidet: et forvaltningsregime under press
Russlands angrepskrig mot Ukraina og de påfølgende sanksjonene mot Russland har vært en stor belastning for det norsk-russiske fiskeriforvaltningsregimet i Barentshavet. Til tross for sanksjonene og Russlands sterke reaksjoner, fikk man likevel på plass en avtale for 2026. Dette kunnskapsnotatet tar for seg hvordan presset på forvaltningsregimet utøver seg, og hvorfor det er viktig for Russland at samarbeidet vedlikeholdes. Det er nærliggende å tro at Russland ønsker å bevare «alliansen» med Norge i Barentshavet og hindre at EU får innpass i bestandsforvaltningen, som Russland beskylder for å prøve å ødelegge samarbeidet.
The Political Afterlife of a Nuclear Catastrophe: A View from Poland
The Chornobyl catastrophe fractured whatever trust remained in Poland's government after five decades of Communist rule, transforming pharmacy queues and playgrounds into spaces of political awakening. Exploring how environmental catastrophe sparked mass civic mobilisation, Szulecki asks whether these lessons can inform struggles for democratic control over nuclear infrastructure in Europe amid war and climate breakdown.
Una promesa dificil de cumplir ¿Es posible un renacimiento nuclear?
Kan kjernekraft virkelig få den renessansen som mange politikere og industriledere nå lover? Denne artikkelen undersøker utsiktene for en global oppskalering av kjernekraft i lys av klimakrisen, energisikkerhet og ambisiøse internasjonale mål om å tredoble kjernekraftkapasiteten innen 2050. Analysen viser at slike ambisjoner møter betydelige hindringer, blant annet høye kostnader, lange byggetider, finansieringsutfordringer, svekkede leverandørkjeder og mangel på kompetanse. Artikkelen diskuterer også potensialet og begrensningene ved små modulære reaktorer (SMR), samt Russlands dominerende rolle i dagens globale kjernekraftindustri gjennom statsselskapet Rosatom. Hovedargumentet er at et omfattende «kjernekraftcomeback» forutsetter en nærmest revolusjonerende omstilling av politikk, markeder og industri, og at kjernekraft trolig vil møte sterk konkurranse fra stadig billigere fornybar energi. Artikkelen er en invitert faglig kommentar i Vanguardia Dossier, Spanias ledende tidsskrift for internasjonale analyser og samfunnsdebatt, i et spesialnummer om kjernekraftens fremtid.
Trust and taxation in Zanzibar’s tourism sector
This report examines how trust shapes tax compliance in Zanzibar’s vital tourism sector, based on a survey of 316 tour operators. While most operators demonstrate a strong sense of civic duty and a high willingness to pay taxes, trust in tax authorities remains moderate. The findings highlight that compliance depends not only on enforcement, but also on clarity, fairness, and reciprocity as businesses are more likely to trust tax authorities when rules are easy to understand and when tax payments translate into visible public benefits. At the same time, the report shows that administrative complexity, unclear procedures, and unpredictable fee changes continue to challenge tour operators, with some willing to make use of informal coping strategies despite prevailing norms in favour of compliance. It concludes that improving communication, simplifying the tax system, and strengthening the perceived link between taxes and public services could play a key role in enhancing both trust and revenue collection in Zanzibar’s most important industry.
Women’s participation and influence in peace processes and implementation of peace agreements in Colombia and South Sudan
This report analyses women’s presence and influence in the peace processes and implementation of peace agreements in Colombia and South Sudan. It demonstrates how women’s organisations and women leaders succeeded in breaking barriers and influencing both the process dynamics and more concrete outcomes in both processes. The report further analyses how Norwegian support contributed to women’s participation and influence in these processes. The report identifies key enabling factors and supporting actions that contribute to enhancing women’s influence. We suggest that when planning support for women’s participation and influence, in order to achieve more impact external actors should design interventions around enabling factors and supporting actions, and combine different types of support. Based on the research and analysis in this report, we present a set of recommendations for external actors who aim to support and contribute to women’s influence in peace processes.
Networked defense in the Indo-Pacific: Deepening security and defense relations between Australia and Japan and the role of Norway
The Indo-Pacific security architecture is developing into a more networked constellation involving a combination of overlapping bilateral, trilateral, minilateral and multilateral arrangements. Deepening defense cooperation between Japan and Australia parallels Europe and Norway’s heightened engagement and presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Norway’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific involves gaining deeper insight into a region of increasing strategic importance and the opportunity to promote its own defense industry. This research was supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, through the project ‘Japan’s Shifting Role in Regional Defence and Global Security’.
Keeping your cool: Arctic security challenges across time and space
The dispute over Greenland has drawn broader attention to Arctic security among NATO allies, EU member states, and beyond. As the most immediate tensions related to Greenland may subside, heightened interest in – and awareness of – security challenges in the region will persist and warrants nuanced discussion and international coordination. These developments set the tone for this Input Memo to the Arctic Security Roundtable at the 2026 Munich Security Conference.
How to implement a full maritime services ban on Russian oil
The EU is considering a full maritime services ban on Russian oil. While the final proposal and decision are still pending, the measure would replace the current oil price-cap regime by prohibiting European and allied companies from providing maritime services for Russian oil exports, regardless of the sale price. The ban would cover transportation, insurance, financing, and other related services. This brief outlines how such a full services ban could be designed and implemented effectively, and how to address potential negative side effects and potential Russian countermeasures. This brief is part of the The Nordic–Baltic Eight (NB8) Institute Series of Topical Briefs.
Energy as a tool of statecraft after Ukraine and Gaza
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have transformed how energy functions as a tool of statecraft, revealing that contemporary energy-related power extends far beyond the manipulation of commodity trade. Direct targeting of electricity systems, fuel infrastructure, and even nuclear power facilities has become a central feature of warfare, exposing the vulnerability of modern, electrified societies. These attacks, combined with intensified forms of economic coercion such as sanctions, price caps, and market reconfiguration, underscore the inadequacy of the traditional “energy weapon” concept, which focuses narrowly on supply disruptions by exporting states. Instead, the new energy security landscape is shaped by interdependence, infrastructure exposure, cyber risk, and shifts triggered by the global energy transition. As decarbonization advances, vulnerabilities migrate from fuels to technologies, value chains, and critical raw materials, generating new geopolitical asymmetries and strategic dependencies. For European policymakers, these developments demand a reconceptualization of energy security that prioritizes systemic resilience, protection of civilian energy infrastructure, and integrated approaches to economic statecraft, defence planning, and climate policy. Understanding energy as both a strategic asset and a potential target is essential for navigating a future in which energy systems are increasingly central to conflict, coercion, and geopolitical competition.
Delays in nationally determined contributions often reflect credibility efforts and not weakening ambition
This Comment examines why many countries delayed submitting updated Nationally Determined Contributions after the 2023 Global Stocktake. Postponements often reflect efforts to enhance credibility and align pledges with domestic policy, rather than a lack of ambition. Based on compliance reports and case studies, we identify the financial, institutional, technical, political, and strategic factors that contribute to delays. Addressing systemic barriers is essential to restoring momentum and ensuring high‑quality NDCs.