Transnational mobilization and civil war
War-related migration and social networks
Regional (in-)security
Peacebuilding and peacemaking
Methodology in contexts of crisis and conflict
Geographical focus on Afghanistan and its neighborhood
Kristian Berg Harpviken
Research Professor
Email: kristian@prio.org
Work phone: +47 22 54 77 78
Mobile phone: +47 920 61 861
Twitter: @harpviken
Interests and experience
Languages
Norwegian, English; basic French and German
Work Experience
| 2017– | Research Professor, PRIO |
|---|---|
| 2009–17 | Director, PRIO |
| 2008 | Guest Researcher, Institute for International Migration (ISIM), Georgetown University |
| 2007– | Associate Fellow, Post-War Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU), University of York |
| 2005–09 | Deputy Director, PRIO |
| 2004–05 | Programme Leader, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (CRPB) programme, PRIO |
| 1999– | Senior Researcher, PRIO |
| 1999–06 | Project Leader, 'Assistance to Mine-Affected Communities (AMAC)' |
| 1998 | Guest researcher (Fulbright Scholar), Department of Sociolocy, University of Chicago |
| 1997–03 | Research Fellow, Department of Sociology and Human geography, University of Oslo. Project: 'Flight and Social Decision-Making: Forced Migration in Afghanistan' |
| 1995–97 | Research Fellow, PRIO. Project: 'Common Security in Southern Africa' (17 months) |
| 1990–92 | Director and Agricultural Coordinator, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), Peshawar, Pakistan |
| 1989 | Conscientious Objector, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), Oslo |
| 1983–88 | Farmer, Harpviken Farm, Brumunddal |
| 1982 | Military Service |
| 1981–93 | Farm work, Nedre Berg Farm, Brøttum |
Appointments
| 2017– | Member of the Board of Directors, Global Resource Network on Conflict (GRNC), Washington DC | | 2017– | External Board member, Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo | | 2016– | Member of the Advisory Committee of the joint United Nations and World Bank Policy Study on the role of Development in the Prevention of Violent Conflict. | | --- | --- | | 2016– | Board member, Research Council of Norway’s Board committee for international issues [Styreutvalg for internasjonale saker] | | --- | --- | | 2015– | Board member, Division for Society and Health, Research Council of Norway | | 2015–16 | Member of Norwegian Commission of Inquiry on Norway’s civilian and military involvement in Afghanistan during the period 2001–2014 | | 2014– | Governing Board member, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), New Delhi | | 2014– | International Board member, Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) | | 2013– | Advisory Board member, Norwegian Polytechnic Society | | 2012– | Board of Trustees member, the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights | | 2012– | Advisory Board member, Business for Peace Foundation | | 2012–16 | Editorial Board member, Politics and Governance (Open Access journal) | | 2011– | Scientific Advisory Council member, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) | | 2010–14 | Programme Council member for the MA programme in Peace and Conflict Studies (PECOS), University of Oslo | | 2007– | Editorial Board member, Comparative Social Research (yearbook published by Emerald) | | 2006–09 | Member of the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (Norway) |
Education
| 2017 | Senior Executive Course (Sjefskurset), Norwegian Defence University College, Oslo |
|---|---|
| 2006 | PhD in Sociology, University of Oslo [Dissertation] |
| 1993–95 | Cand. Polit (M.Phil.) in Sociology, University of Oslo [Dissertation] |
| 1991–93 | Development Studies, University of Uppsala |
| 1987–89 | Cand. Mag, University of Oslo |
| 1984–86 | Management studies, Norwegian School of Management, Gjøvik |
| 1982–83 | Agriculturalist, Staup School of Gardening, Levanger |
Current projects
All projects
Jul 2020 – Dec 2023
On Fair Terms: The Ethics of Peace Negotiations and Mediation (FAIR)
On Fair Terms: The Ethics of Peace Negotiations and Mediation (FAIR)
Jan 2020 – Dec 2023
Reaching Out to Close the Border: The Transnationalization of Anti-Immigration Movements in Europe (MAM)
Reaching Out to Close the Border: The Transnationalization of Anti-Immigration Movements in Europe (MAM)
Jan 2020 –
No Peace in Sight? The United States and the Complex Case of Afghanistan, 1978-2020
No Peace in Sight? The United States and the Complex Case of Afghanistan, 1978-2020
Jan 2018 – Dec 2023
The Impact of Security Force Assistance on State Fragility (SFAssist)
The Impact of Security Force Assistance on State Fragility (SFAssist)
Latest publications
All publications
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2023)
The US Talks with the Afghan Taliban: Pulling the Rug from under a Government it Created
The US Talks with the Afghan Taliban: Pulling the Rug from under a Government it Created
FAIR Case Brief
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2022)
How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter
How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2022)
Stø kurs i møte med globale utfordringer: Norges utenrikspolitikk
Stø kurs i møte med globale utfordringer: Norges utenrikspolitikk
Book chapter in Det norske samfunn, 8. utgave
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2022)
Dømt til å mislykkes? USA og det afghanske statsbyggingsprosjektet, 2001–2021
Dømt til å mislykkes? USA og det afghanske statsbyggingsprosjektet, 2001–2021
Journal Article in Internasjonal Politikk
Pinar Tank et al. (2022)
Transactional Engagements: Middle Eastern Responses to the Ukrainian War
Transactional Engagements: Middle Eastern Responses to the Ukrainian War
Popular article in PRIO blogs
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2022)
PRIO’s State Feminist: Helga Hernes
PRIO’s State Feminist: Helga Hernes
Book chapter in Lives in Peace Research: The Oslo Stories
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2022)
Organizing for Peace: Mari Holmboe Ruge
Organizing for Peace: Mari Holmboe Ruge
Book chapter in Lives in Peace Research: The Oslo Stories
Kristian Berg Harpviken & Bjørn Schirmer-Nilsen (2021)
Irresolvable Dilemmas? The Prospects for Repatriation for Syrian Refugees
Irresolvable Dilemmas? The Prospects for Repatriation for Syrian Refugees
MidEast Policy Brief by Kristian Berg Harpviken & Bjørn Schirmer-Nilsen
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2021)
The Foreign Policy of the Afghan Taliban
The Foreign Policy of the Afghan Taliban
PRIO Policy Brief by Kristian Berg Harpviken
Kristian Berg Harpviken (2021)
Afghan Peace Will Require a Neighborly Concert
Afghan Peace Will Require a Neighborly Concert
PRIO Policy Brief by Kristian Berg Harpviken
Latest news
All news
Wednesday, 9 Aug 2023
New Survey Shows Strong Support for Nordic Self-Defense
New Survey Shows Strong Support for Nordic Self-Defense
A new survey shows that 70 per cent of respondents believe Norway should put up an armed resistance if it is attacked by another country.
Tuesday, 8 Aug 2023
New podcast series: FAIR: Ethics in Peace Negotiations
New podcast series: FAIR: Ethics in Peace Negotiations
A new podcast series on ethics in peace negotiations is now available on Spotify.
Tuesday, 8 Aug 2023
PRIO at Arendalsuka 2023
PRIO at Arendalsuka 2023
Arendalsuka is an annual Norwegian political festival that brings together politicians, journalists, policy makers, aid organisations, civil society and the private sector.
Monday, 24 Jul 2023
New case brief under the FAIR project: The US Talks with the Afghan Taliban: Pulling the Rug from under a Government it Created
New case brief under the FAIR project: The US Talks with the Afghan Taliban: Pulling the Rug from under a Government it Created
This new case brief under the On Fair Terms: The Ethics of Peace Negotiations and Mediation (FAIR) project written by Kristian Berg Harpviken focuses on how the US-Taliban agreement paved the way for the Taliban’s takeover, an outcome that was not given yet seemed highly likely, whether seen from the vantage point of 2018 (when talks started) or 2020 (when they were concluded).
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2023
PRIO Awarded New Funding to Research Russian Approaches to Peace Processes
PRIO Awarded New Funding to Research Russian Approaches to Peace Processes
PRIO was awarded new funding this week by the Research Council of Norway for a 3-year project, Russian Approaches to Peace Processes.
Monday, 27 Mar 2023
In Search of the Radicalized Mainstream: Mobilizing, Normalizing and Normativizing Far-Right Ideologies from the Centre
In Search of the Radicalized Mainstream: Mobilizing, Normalizing and Normativizing Far-Right Ideologies from the Centre
Call for Papers for an international symposium & workshop, 9-10 November 2023.
Tuesday, 7 Jun 2022
PhD Course on International Mediation
PhD Course on International Mediation
The PRIO Research School on Peace and Conflict, incollaboration with the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, hosted doctoralcandidates at the PhD-level course.
Sunday, 8 May 2022
The History of PRIO and Peace Research: New Open Access Book
The History of PRIO and Peace Research: New Open Access Book
The new open accessbook Livesin Peace Research: The Oslo Stories explains how PRIO, the world'soldest independent peace research institute, was founded and how it survivedthrough crises.
Thursday, 24 Mar 2022
Transactional Engagements: Middle Eastern Responses to the Ukrainian War
Transactional Engagements: Middle Eastern Responses to the Ukrainian War
Russia’s war in Ukraine has been met with global condemnation drawing NATO and the EU closer together in coordinating collective responses.
Friday, 11 Feb 2022
UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini Debates Palestinian Refugees at PRIO
UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini Debates Palestinian Refugees at PRIO
What is the current status of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)? What are its main challenges? What types of scenarios can we envision for UNRWA's future?These were some of the questions discussed today when the PRIO Middle East Centre and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a roundtable with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.
Latest events
All events
Friday, 22 Sep 2023 08:30–10:00
Pasts That Persist: Perspectives from Iraq and Palestine
Pasts That Persist: Perspectives from Iraq and Palestine
Tuesday, 15 Aug 2023 17:00–18:30
Nordisk sikkerhet: Norge og Sverige – forskjeller og likheter
Nordisk sikkerhet: Norge og Sverige – forskjeller og likheter
Tuesday, 16 May 2023 09:00–10:00
Cancelled: Revelations from Norway’s Secret Negotiations to Stop the War in Libya
Cancelled: Revelations from Norway’s Secret Negotiations to Stop the War in Libya
Thursday, 20 Apr 2023 09:00–10:00
China’s Growing Role in the Middle East
China’s Growing Role in the Middle East
Monday, 13 Mar 2023 17:00–18:00
Resisting Occupation through Art - A Conversation with Ahmed Tobasi
Resisting Occupation through Art - A Conversation with Ahmed Tobasi
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2023 15:00–16:30
Renewing the UN's Mandate for Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Reflections and Recommendations
Renewing the UN's Mandate for Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Reflections and Recommendations
Tuesday, 31 Jan 2023 08:30–09:30
Turkish Drones as a Foreign Policy Tool
Turkish Drones as a Foreign Policy Tool
Tuesday, 6 Dec 2022 08:30–10:00
The Women-led Uprising in Iran: Long lines, Current Dynamics and Future Prospects - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
The Women-led Uprising in Iran: Long lines, Current Dynamics and Future Prospects - MidEast Breakfast Seminar
Wednesday, 16 Nov 2022 18:00–20:00
The Role of Norway and the International Community in Afghanistan
The Role of Norway and the International Community in Afghanistan
Wednesday, 16 Nov 2022 16:30–17:30
Norwegian Intelligence in Afghanistan: How Much did they Know?
Norwegian Intelligence in Afghanistan: How Much did they Know?
Latest blog posts
All blog posts
Friday, 2 Sep 2022
A Painful Dialogue with the Taliban
A Painful Dialogue with the Taliban
Thursday, 7 Jul 2022
Russia’s War in Ukraine Is a Stress Test of Norway’s Public Debate
Russia’s War in Ukraine Is a Stress Test of Norway’s Public Debate
Thursday, 24 Mar 2022
Transactional Engagements: Middle Eastern Responses to the Ukrainian War
Transactional Engagements: Middle Eastern Responses to the Ukrainian War
Monday, 21 Mar 2022
The Taliban, International Law and the Rest of the World
The Taliban, International Law and the Rest of the World
Saturday, 21 Aug 2021
Is Diplomacy Failing When It Is Needed Most?
Is Diplomacy Failing When It Is Needed Most?
Sunday, 15 Aug 2021
What happened to Afghanistan’s Security Forces?
What happened to Afghanistan’s Security Forces?
Friday, 6 Aug 2021
The Plight of Syrian Refugees
The Plight of Syrian Refugees
Friday, 23 Jul 2021
Norway After the Terror
Norway After the Terror
Thursday, 22 Apr 2021
Will the Taliban Gain From Negotiations?
Will the Taliban Gain From Negotiations?
Friday, 19 Feb 2021
NATO’s Exit From Afghanistan: ‘a brutal dilemma’
NATO’s Exit From Afghanistan: ‘a brutal dilemma’
