China’s Political Priorities in the Nordic Countries: from technology to core interests

Chinese policymakers have identified a number of priorities that motivate them to observe and interact with the Nordic countries. While one can assume that the Nordic countries appear far from frequently on China’s foreign policy agenda, they have unique competences and are open to increased engagement...

Holding the borders, holding the centre: the EU and the refugee crisis

What has come to be called the ‘refugee crisis’ is the latest in a series of crises bedevilling the European Union – the four-fold monetary, budgetary, economic and financial ‘Euro-crisis’; a geopolitical security challenge posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the war in Syria and incursions into NATO...

Financial Plumbing for Big Beer

This policy brief departs from the idea of studying multinational corporations’ “global wealth chains” (Seabrooke and Wigan 2014a, 2014b). This can tell us how companies protect and create wealth by decentering their corporate forms in advantageous jurisdictions. The brief proposes a method for studying...

The U.S. Presidential Election and its Implications on Middle East Policy

Preparing Civilian Experts to work in Vulnerable Places: Unveiling Brazil’s Potential

Nord Stream 2: policy dilemmas and the future of EU gas market

The Nord Stream 2 (NS2) gas pipeline project is one of the most controversial issues in EU gas-related debates today. Its proponents hold that the project is driven by purely commercial considerations, while opponents label it as political and contradictory to EU goals and rules. The project has also...

Mispricing Argentine soybean exports

Reform, Renegotiation and Referendum

The UK stands on the brink of a momentous decision: whether to leave or remain in the European Union. Unlike all the other states that have sought late entry to the EU, the UK did not hold a referendum on whether to join in 1973: the decision was taken on the basis of a parliamentary vote. However, in...

UN peacekeeping as a learning organisation : From Brahimi to the HIPPO (2000-2015)

Norway, the Joint Strike Fighter Program and its Implications for Transatlantic Defense Industrial Cooperation

Cyber Security Capacity Building : Developing Access

This study concentrates on providing the rationale and identifying potential ‘dimensions’ for certain governmental CCB instruments, and what tasks they should cover. The ‘methodological’ dimension includes developing frameworks for assessing and delivering CCB programmes, but also extends to general...

Macedonia – back in the global spotlight

The next big European project? The migration and asylum crisis: a vital challenge for the EU

The summer of 2015 may well be remembered as a turning point in the history of both migration to Europe and European integration. There was a further rise in mixed inflows of migrants and refugees, with a diversification of the routes employed – in particular, a surge in transits across the Eastern Mediterranean...

European Security & the Power of Knowledge-based Networks

The EU, Russia and Ukraine: a double track with no end?

How Do Little Frogs Fly? Small States in the European Union

Small EU member states need to exploit the special characteristics of their small public administrations in order to secure their interests and have influence within the Union. They must develop an administrative competence based on features like informality, flexibility, and the autonomy of officials...

Reality check for the EU: The stand-off with Russia challenges the European Union in its fundaments

Russia’s military attacks in Ukraine are not only an assault on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of one of the European Union’s largest neighbours. They also impose multiple important challenges to the European Union (EU). Moscow has questioned the architecture, rules and institutions of the...

Key Policies Affecting Civilian Capacities