Viljar Haavik
Research FellowViljar Haavik is a Research Fellow at NUPI's Research Group for Peace, Conflict and Development, as part of the research project Strengthening Fragile States through Taxation (FRAGTAX).
Haavik's thesis examines how vulnerable states' political authority to tax is challenged by various non-state actors with a focus on Mali and Liberia. Former research interests include causes of violent extremism, insecurity and conflict in vulnerable states in the Sahel in West Africa. He is attached to the research network TaxCapDev.
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Publication
: Academic article
Self-defence Militias and State Sponsorship in Burkina Faso
2021Since 2015-16, Burkina Faso has been engulfed in an ongoing conflict with jihadist insurgent groups active across the Sahel in West Africa. As the conflict escalated, the use of armed militias in Burkina Faso became widespread and was actively sponsored by the State which led to concerns over the militias’... -
Research project
Strengthening Fragile States through Taxation (FRAGTAX)
2021 - 2024 (Ongoing)How is the political authority to tax established, exercised and maintained over time? State-building requires predictable income. Without a domestic revenue base, even core activities states are expected to perform – such as protecting territory, providing justice, and delivering basic services – becomes...
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Publication
Much Ado About Very Little? Migration-Linked Development Assistance — the Cases of Poland and Norway
2021In response to the migration management crisis that peaked in Europe in 2015-2016, the EU institutions and some European states promised to address the “root causes of migration”, with development assistance seen as an important tool in that respect. By comparing the development cooperation policies...- Patryk Kugiel
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News
Tax for Development Webinar Series Presenting the TaxCapDev-Network
04.11.2020Taxation is the key to state-building and the pathway out of fragility. An important theme forming the basis for the TaxCapDev-network. -
News
Did British colonial rule in Africa foster a legacy of corruption among local elites?
30.10.2020The empowerment of chiefs during colonial rule fostered a legacy of corruption more potent than the formal legal system left behind by the colonisers. -
News
Corruption in customs: Time for a new approach
15.10.2020Customs are often perceived as one of the most corrupt institutions in developing countries. Though difficult and complex, fighting corruption in customs is possible but requires an approach that is less centered on transposition of norms and practices from developed countries. -
News
Tax for Development Webinar Series
14.10.2020A new webinar series featuring ongoing research and initiatives to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation in developing countries, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. -
News
Africa, Tax and the Digital Economy
04.09.2020Are the giant tech companies paying their fair share of taxes? Challenges facing African countries in the digital economy. -
Research project
Migration and Development: Sharing knowledge between Norway and Poland (MiDeShare)
2019 - 2021 (Completed)The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the relationship between migration and development in order to suggest more effective policies for addressing root causes of migration in weak and fragile states.
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Research project
Fragile states and violent entrepreneurs: conflict, climate, refugees (FRAGVENT)
2018 - 2021 (Ongoing)What forms of authority underpin, enable, and extend violent entrepreneurs in fragile states, and how do the combined effects of fragile states, conflict, and climate impact this?