When jihadists govern: Lessons across the Sahel cases
Fifteen years of international engagement have failed to halt the rise of jihadist insurgency in the Sahel. The Jihadist Governance in the Sahel (JIGOV-Sahel) research project shows that neither the absence of the state nor the insurgents’ ideological commitment alone is the cause. The state is present in ways that generate resistance, and jihadists govern because they fulfil functions the state does not. Norwegian and international strategies should move away from a military-first response and from the restoration of the same state, and towards assistance that strengthens state legitimacy, services, and rule of law in the daily lives of citizens.
Replacing the state
Military action alone is insufficient to defeat jihadist insurgency in northeast Nigeria; ISWAP persists by functioning as a proto-state providing justice and services. Insurgents fill the vacuum left by the state’s failure to provide security and infrastructure in rural areas. Reclaiming authority requires re-placing insurgent governance archi-tectures with predictable state administration. Rapid restoration of services and civilian protection in liberated areas are vital to preventing insurgent return. Reintegration must address returnee expectations shaped by their experience of alternative rule. Note: An updated version was published 8 June 2026.
Gender equality in global climate governance
Gender equality is now formally embedded in global climate governance. Yet in practice, climate policy reflects a divided agenda. Developed countries tend to perform better on gender-balanced participation in climate negotiations, while developing countries more consistently integrate gender into their pledges under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This divide is driven by differences in incentives, financing structures, and how countries use their NDCs. For many developing countries, integrating gender into climate policy is closely tied to accessing international climate finance and demonstrating alignment with donor expectations. For developed countries, gender equality is often addressed through domestic policy frameworks, but is less visible in international climate commitments. The result is a fragmented approach in which participation and policy evolve separately, limiting the effectiveness of gender-responsive climate action and reducing opportunities for shared learning across countries.
Strategic Climate Balancing: What the International Community Can Do as the United States Steps Back
The United States’ withdrawal from international climate institutions under the second Trump administration poses a serious challenge to global climate cooperation. Given the scale of US emissions and the dismantling of federal climate capacity, the international community cannot depend on a future policy reversal in Washington. Instead, this policy brief advances a strategy of “climate balancing” that seeks to sustain decarbonisation by working around the US federal government. Climate balancing focuses on three priorities: direct engagement with US states and cities that continue to pursue ambitious climate action; the construction of industrial alliances that leverage clean energy constituencies through tools such as coordinated carbon pricing and border adjustment mechanisms; and reframing climate action as a matter of energy security and geopolitical competition, particularly in light of China’s growing dominance in clean energy supply chains. Together, these measures aim to limit free-rider dynamics, preserve momentum in global climate governance, and keep the conditions for eventual US re-engagement open, demonstrating that effective climate cooperation can persist even in the absence of US federal leadership.
The Evolution of African Armies: From Indigenous and Colonial Forces to Modern Military Forces
This book investigates how African armies in post-conflict societies are evolving and adapting to new and emerging threats. In recent years, multiple extremely complex armed conflicts have contributed to chronic instability and vulnerabilities in several African states and regions. This book investigates several key case studies to assess the development, deployment and use of African armies in different conflict environments. In particular, the book examines how African states have utilised bilateral partnerships, the deployment to international peacekeeping operations and military training to enhance security and military capacities as a way to tackle both emerging and existing threats at home. Ultimately, the book questions our past and current knowledge of African armies, arguing that current trends in their evolution suggest we need to rethink our understanding, given the vast tasks they are deployed to handle. As a result, the book seeks to explore ways in which we can invest in African armies that positively contribute to development and sustainable peace across the continent. Bringing together valuable empirical insights and critical conversations on the evolution of modern African armies, this book will be an important read for international and national policy actors, and for researchers working on African politics, conflict, security, peacekeeping, international relations, and sustainable development.
Securing the north: Nordic defence cooperation across the Baltic, Arctic, and North Atlantic
What does the Northern European security landscape look like today, and what is really bringing the Nordic countries closer together on defence? In this seminar, postdoctoral fellow Gabriella Gricius visits NUPI to present her forthcoming book on just that.
The EU and the Geopolitics of the Oceans
Norwegian Centre for Geopolitics: Alf Håkon Hoel (UiT) and Linda S. Dahlberg (UiT) analyse the EU's role as a geopolitical power in ocean governance. With 22 maritime member states and over five million km² of European sea areas, the EU is a significant actor at sea – though its influence varies considerably by region. While the Baltic Sea is almost entirely an EU domain, EU member states are actually a minority among the coastal states of the Mediterranean. The authors also examine ongoing initiatives such as the European Ocean Pact, the EU Arctic Policy and Horizon Europe, and discuss their implications for Norway as an EEA member and a key maritime nation in the High North.
Statslederens nye klær (The State Leader’s New Clothes)
Why and how do clothes matter to state leaders’ everyday work? This chapter analyzes how leaders’ clothing functions as a tool of signaling, identity, and power in the international political arena.
Breakfast seminar: Challenges with organizing post-war elections in Ukraine
This seminar will provide a space for informed discussion on the legal, operational, security and societal dimensions of post-war electoral preparedness in Ukraine.