Trond Bakkevig left PRIO in 2022. The information on this page is kept for historical reasons.
Email: trond.bakkevig@gmail.com
Trond Bakkevig is the Dean (Archdeacon) of Vestre Aker which includes twelve parishes and twenty-six pastors.
His doctoral thesis, at the University of Oslo (1984) was on theology and nuclear arms (published in German under the title: Ordnungstheologie und Atomwaffen. Eine Studie zur Sozialethik von Paul Althaus, Walter Künneth und Helmut Thielicke. Paderborn/Oslo 1989). Linked to this work was also an article on the issue of just war: Trond Bakkevig (1983). 'The Doctrine on Just War – Relevance and Applicability'. Studia Theologica. p. 125-145
On the background of his involvement in the struggle against apartheid, he wrote a booklet in Norwegian with the title: Den norske kirke og kampen mot apartheid. Oslo 1995 [The Church of Norway and the Struggle against Apartheid].
He has been writing mostly on political ethics, the relationship between church, religion and society, but lately mostly about the role of religious dialogue and cooperation between religions in relation to peace negotiations and peace processes. One example of this is: Trond Bakkevig (2011). 'Religious Dialogue and the Quest for Peace in the Middle East'. NOREF Report. Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre
He has written many scientific and popular articles in Norwegian as well as in international books and journals. They have mostly dealt with issues of ecclesiology, ethics and pastoral theology.
Work experience:
2006: Guest Researcher at PRIO
2000-2018: Dean, Vestre Aker and pastor Vestre Aker parish, Oslo
1993-2000: Pastor, Røa parish, Oslo
1984-93: Secretary General, the Church of Norway Council of Ecumenical and International Relations
1987-88: Personal Adviser, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Education:
1984: Dr. theol., University of Oslo
Book Chapter in Lives in Peace Research: the Oslo Stories
Monograph
Book Chapter in Folkekirke Nå
Popular Article in Dagbladet
The new open access
book Lives
in Peace Research: The Oslo Stories explains how PRIO, the world's
oldest independent peace research institute, was founded and how it survived
through crises.
On 2-4 February, PRIO co-organized a conference in Kyrenia (north Cyprus) titled Youth in Iraq: Developing Capacities for Active Citizenship. Iraqis from different regions, political orientations, and religious communities attended the event, along with participants from Cyprus, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.
On 28-30 June, PRIO co-organized a conference in Beirut on Societal Inclusion and Reconciliation: Two Pillars for Building a Better Future in Iraq. Iraqis from different regions, political orientations, and religious communities attended the event, along with participants from Britain, Iran, Lebanon, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.
On the occasion of the visit to Oslo by the Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, a closed roundtable discussion on the Middle East was hosted by PRIO, in association with the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) at the Doha Institute.
The 'Erbil Declaration' on Inclusive Citizenship in Iraq sums up the joint recommendations of a group of intellectuals and religious leaders from a wide range of Iraqi communities and several European countries. It resulted from a conference that took place in Erbil on 2-4 June 2016.
Congratulations to Trond Bakkevig, who has been awarded the Gunnar Sønsteby Memorial Prize for his work with dialogue between religious leaders in the Middle East. He is awarded the prize alongside Deeyah Khan, a human rights activist and film-maker. The prize is awarded by the Gunnar Sønsteby Memorial Fund, to "people who are corageous defenders of fundamental democratic values" [mennesker som fremstår som modige forsvarere av de grunnleggende verdier i vårt demokrati].Trond Bakkevig has been associated with PRIO since 2005 and is an Associate Senior Researcher at PRIO since 2014.