Abkhazia between Russia and the outside world

We take a closer look at Abkhazia, a de facto state in Southern Caucasus, and focus on its efforts to secure diplomatic ties in the post-Soviet space and beyond, as well as its relationship with its patron state, Russia.

In this episode of NUPI's podcats series 'The World Stage', we turn our attention to Abkhazia, a de facto state in Southern Caucasus at the eastern coast of the Black Sea, and we will focus on its efforts to secure diplomatic ties in the post-Soviet space and beyond, as well as its relationship with its patron state, Russia with the help of two guests: Dr Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, and Pål Kolstø, Professor at the Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages at the University of Oslo.

Host is Tamta Gelashvili (the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and the University of Oslo).

The next migration crisis: Is the EU better prepared?

In this podcast episode we take a closer look on how the EU will handle a new migration crisis.

A new wave of mass migration to Europe might be building up according to several indicators. Is the EU better prepared now than during the refugee crisis in 2015? Or could this looming crisis be a new threat to the EU that will come on top of the war in Europe? How will that affect the European unity that we have been witnessing faced with the war in Ukraine?

Listen in as Research Professor Pernille Rieker from NUPI interviews Professor Christian Kaunert from Dublin City University and University of South Wales.

Bridging or dividing people? A conversation about Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mostar in particular

In this podcast episode we’ll take a closer look at the relationship between the different ethnic groups in Mostar after the Balkan wars.

What influences the resilience of different population groups to radicalization and violent extremism?

One of the case study areas in the EU-funded PREVEX project is the Balkans. In this episode of the NUPI podcast The World Stage, we are zooming in on Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The famous bridge in Mostar represents a symbolic background for the social fabric that has suffered from the war in the 1990’ies. In 1993 the bridge was destroyed in the civil war that raged in the former Yugoslavia. On one side of the bridge, the Bosniak community was predominant, on the other side, the majority were Croats.

The bridge was later rebuilt, but how are the relations between people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Mostar today, nearly three decades after the war ended? Do people from the different ethnic groups mix, socially, at school or at work? How is this different from before the war? What are the lessons to be learnt and what are the main challenges today? And with the recent general elections in the country, is there any hope for change?

Listen in as Senior Research Fellow at NUPI, Kari Osland, discusses this with Professor Edina Becirevic (Security Studies at UNSA and co-founder of Atlantic Initiative) and politician Lana Prlic (Representative in the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vice President for SDP BiH).

How important are traditional values for Putin’s support?

How important are traditional values for Putin’s support? How are they related to the war in Ukraine? And what does the future look like for the Putin regime?

In the last decade, Russian authorities have adopted a strongly antiliberal rhetoric with attacks on Western secularism, multiculturalism, and alleged moral decay. This rhetoric has been followed up with new laws against blasphemy and “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientations among minors”, decriminalization of wife battery, etc.

In this episode of The World Stage, Tora Berge Naterstad discusses findings from the project “Value-based regime legitimation in Russia” (LegitRuss) with Professor Henry Hale.

Most people aren’t radicalized

Why are some communities more likely to experience violent extremism than others? And why do most people living in enabling environments stay clear of radicalization?

These are two of the core questions of the NUPI led EU project PREVEX that is now in its third year of research.

In this episode of The World Stage, Marie Furhovden has invited three of the researchers involved in this project; Diana Mishkova, Luca Raineri and Stéphane Lacroix to give a run through of the findings in the project so far. Towards the end, Steven Blockmans is giving his view on what the research from this project can be utilized in the EU.

Useful or useless? The Ukraine UN ambassador's take on the UN Security Council

Has Russia's invation of Ukraine pushed the UN Security Council to the brink of existential crisis?

As one of the veto powers, Russia is blocking all resolutions on Ukraine. And from the looks of it, the Security Council is paralyzed on an international crisis of historical dimentions. But is this really the case?

Therese Leine, senior communications advisor, and Dr. Niels Nagelhus Schia, senior research fellow and social antropoligist, from The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, visited the UN to find out.

The guest in this episode of The World Stage is Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's ambassador to the UN.

The EU’s role in European security and defence

On the 21 of March 2022, the Council of the EU adopted a Strategic Compass, a roadmap for the EU to become a stronger security and defence actor. But what does this really mean, and does it change the EUs role as a security actor in any significant way?

These are some of the questions that were discussed in this episode of The World Stage. Guest is Steven Blockmans, Research Director at CEPS and Professor at Amsterdam University. Host for this episode is Pernille Rieker, Research Professor and coordinator for the NUPI Centre for European studies.

Is this the end of academic freedom in Russia?

The eyes of the world are now pointed towards the horrible war in Ukraine. But right on the other side of the border, a concerning trend has been taking place for some time already. The Russian governments’ grip on freedom of speech is tightening, day by day, restricting the everyday activities and professional life of Russian citizens.

What does this mean for Russian academics? And is the latest development essentially the end of academic freedom in Russia?

Host for this episode is Marie Furhovden (NUPI) alongside, Julie Wilhelmsen (NUPI), Aude Merlin (l'Université libre de Bruxelles) and Mark Youngman (University of Portsmouth)

Can Europe get out of Russian gas?

After the invasion of Ukraine, Europeans are now rethinking its relationship with Russia, and its dependence on Russian gas. There is a strong desire by EU and European countries to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

Can Europe reduce its dependence on Russian gas? Is there a realistic roadmap? What are the steps that are necessary? And what would it take, in terms of investments, finance and political willingness?

What can Norway do in order for Europe to ease this transition? Can Norway produce more gas?

If Europe succeeds, what will this mean for Russia? And what are the Russians thinking about the current European strategy?

In this episode, Jarand Rystad (CEO, Rystad Energy), discuss these questions together with Jakub Godzimirski (Research professor, NUPI) and Ulf Sverdrup (Director, NUPI).

The Ukraine war and the NATO responses in the Baltic and the High North regions

On March 24, all Heads of State and Government in NATO met in Brussels for an Extraordinary NATO Summit to discuss NATO's response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. A few days before this, we had the chance to talk with NATO General Jörg Vollmer, Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, and Lieutenant General Yngve Odlo, Commander of the Norwegian Joint headquarters in the Norwegian Defence about the challenges that Russia represents in the Baltic and High North Regions, and how NATO and Norway can best respond.

Host for this episode is Senior Research Fellow and Head of Research Group on Security and Defense at NUPI, Karsten Friis.

Europe, Norway, and the Ukraine crisis

How does the war in Ukraine affect security, trade, economy, and migration in Europe and in Norway?

With Mark Leonard (Director, ECFR) and Ulf Sverdrup (Director, NUPI).

The conversation is moderated by Tore Myhre (International Director, The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise - NHO).

This is a recording of a NUPI seminar held on 16 March 2022.

NATO's future at a time of war

A discussion with the Head of NATO's Policy Planning Unit, Dr Benedetta Berti, about the new security situation in Europe and NATOs new Strategic Concept.