Benedicte Egjar Engesland
Benedicte is a Master’s student in Political Science at the University of Oslo and a research assistant at NUPI in the Research Group for Global O...
Populism and the Future of Transatlantic Relations: Challenges and Policy Options
This report assesses how changes in US foreign policy under a right-wing populist president affect the EU–US relationship and offers concrete policy recommendations on pressing issues. Focusing on the links between foreign-policy shifts, domestic polarization and antiliberal democratic trends, the report examines how domestic dynamics may constitute the most severe long-term challenge to transatlantic cooperation. It also evaluates specific policy challenges and opportunities for strengthening that cooperation in the years ahead. By exploring developments in US foreign policies and how these are linked to domestic polarization and antiliberal democratic ideas, chapters in this report shed light on how this domestic factor poses a severe challenge to the transatlantic relationship. Authors focus on how the rise of right-wing populism – with an increasing portion of the population resisting globalization, international institutions, free trade and even democratic values on both sides of the Atlantic affects the transatlantic relationship. Within each section of the report, a background chapter introduces the overarching debate, followed by three case studies focusing on observed changes, policy implications and recommendations for EU responses. The conclusion sums up key findings and provides recommendations for how the EU should respond to changing transatlantic relations.
Andreas Hirblinger
Andreas Hirblinger is a senior research fellow in the Global Order and Diplomacy research group at the Norwegian Institute of International Affair...
Developments in EU space policy: challenges and opportunities for Norway
EU space policy is undergoing change. Its growing prioritisation of security and defence creates uncertainty regarding Norway’s role and opportunities in EU space activities. These changes will take time, but opportunities for continued Norwegian engagement lie in strategic positioning, strong security and defence industrial relations with the EU, and in Norway being perceived by the EU as a like-minded and reliable partner. In particular, the EU’s intention to streamline its model for cooperation with third countries may challenge Norway’s position as a particularly closely integrated participant in EU space activities. This policy brief builds on an article published in the journal Internasjonal Politikk entitled "Room for change? The premises of EU space policy". The article was written while the author, Dorthea Gradek, was a trainee at the Norwegian Space Agency. The analysis, findings and recommendations in this policy brief are based on 23 interviews with officials working within the EU space bureaucracy, including staff in the COREPER subgroup, the European Commission, agencies under the European Commission, and the permanent representations of European countries to the EU.
Managing climate, peace and security risks in the Lake Chad Region
The policy brief summarises findings from a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA), undertaken for the climate, peace and security risks in the Lake Chad region research project (CPS-Lake Chad). The publication is part of the project project 'Managing Climate, Peace and Security Risks in the Borderlands of the Lake Chad Region (CPS-Lake Chad)' which is funded by the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme. It brings together world-leading experts and local researchers to examine conflict-affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour.
Social trust and resilience: Recent findings from Ukraine
In this seminar we will launch the NUPI Ukraine Centre and present fresh data from the first face-to-face street survey completed in Kyiv since the Russian full-scale invasion.
Norway and Space: Strategic Positioning, Allied Cooperation, and Exposure (NSPACE)
The NSPACE project explores how Norway can respond to growing great-power competition in space by assessing how space infrastructure shapes national vulnerabilities and strategic oppor...
Reconciling Indonesia’s Climate Ambition: Who Gets to Shape the Policymaking Process?
Indonesia entered COP30 in Belém, Brazil, with more ambitious pledges, but the governance that produces those commitments has changed little. Successive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) show greater ambition on paper yet remain shaped by a narrow technocratic circle, limited public participation, and growth-first economic assumptions. This expert-centered approach reveals a persistent tension between development priorities and the Paris Agreement’s goals. To strengthen credibility, ambition, and delivery before the next pledge-and-review cycle, Indonesia should: • Expand NDC involvement beyond the existing expert group. • Build a climate action coalition to coordinate national and local efforts. • Invest in capacity building while maintaining national control. • Publish comprehensive implementation roadmaps with well-defined targets and milestones. • Reduce reliance on FOLU and land-use sinks by accelerating energy and industrial decarbonization. • Rebuild strategic climate diplomacy to guide focused coalitions at COPs.
When space policy becomes security policy: Norway’s participation in the EU’s space activities (EU Rom)
This report was commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries to inform decisions about Norway’s continued participation in EU space activities for 2028–2034. ...