Governance
Governance is about which political institutions a society have, the processes these are involved in, and their governing behavior.
A country is deemed to be ‘democratic’ if the political leadership is chosen by means of free elections – but to qualify as a true democracy, there must also be a well-functioning legal system and respect for human rights.Contrary to democracies we have dictatorial or authoritarian countries. The less authority citizens in a society wield, the more authoritarian the country is deemed.
At NUPI, research on governance examine various forms of government to understand better the ways in which countries may be authoritarian or democratic, as well as the consequences of different types of governance for the economy and living conditions.
Questions in focus include:
- Why do democratic states less often go to war with each other?
- What can influence the economy to shift from an authoritarian to a democratic form of governance?
- Why is famine less common in democracies?
News about governance
-
Reduced influence in the Arctic?
4 Nov 2021In the Arctic Council, eight states work on, among several other pressing issues, the alarming impacts of global climate change. But who gets a say? Research Professor Elana Wilson Rowe investigates this in a new article.
-
What is at Stake in Norway's Post-election Climate Negotiations
21 Sep 2021The faster Norway embarks on a responsible but speedy end to its reliance on oil, the greater the potential reputational, diplomatic, and commercial gains for Norway, write three NUPI researchers in this op-ed.
-
Transnational Ecosystems Cooperation is Taking off
19 Aug 2021Do these efforts to govern border-crossing ecosystems have unique effects that matter for global politics more generally?
Publications about governance
-
Publication
: Report
UN-ICC Cooperation: Walking A Tightrope.
2021United Nations (UN) peacekeepers are frequently in a position to assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its efforts to prosecute war criminals in conflict zones. This research note discusses the conditions under which UN peacekeepers assist the ICC and the potential costs and benefits of assistance... -
Publication
: Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Securitisation of the EU approach to the Western Balkans: from conflict transformation to crisis management.
This chapter analyses the EU’s crisis response in the Western Balkans through the lens of EULEX. By exploring how those immediately responsible for mandate execution and those directly affected by its outcomes perceive EULEX, we discover gaps that highlight the pitfalls of direct and ingrained political... -
Publication
: Report
Small States, Different Approaches. Estonia and Norway on the UN Security Council
In 2021, Estonia and Norway serve alongside Ireland as elected European members on the UN Security Council. In this report we ask: Why do smaller states like Estonia and Norway invest time, energy and resources seeking a non-permanent seat on the Security Council? What can they hope to achieve during...
Research projects about governance
-
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...
-
Photograph: NTB Scanpix
Research project
Understanding and Strenthening EU Foreign & Security Poliocy in a Complex and Contested World (JOINT)
2021 (Ongoing)The JOINT project analyses these dynamics while addressing the question of how the EU and its member states can make their foreign and security policy structures more joined-up and sustainable.
-
Photo: NTB Scanpix
Research project
Reactions to state regulation of Islam in times of Daesh (STATEISLAM)
2021 - 2025 (Ongoing)In recent years, in response to the rise of ISIS, governments in the Middle East have begun to control the religious spheres in their countries more tightly. In Egypt, for example, President Abdulfattah...