Marte Nilsen
Senior Researcher
Additional positions:
Coordinator of the Research School on Peace and Conflict
Research Interests
Marte Nilsen is a Historian of Religions and a Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Her research focus is on the ethnicity-religion-nationbuilding nexus of political and violent conflicts in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Myanmar and Thailand. Research interests include:
- Civil society movements in peacebuilding and democratization
- Societal transformation in conflict settings
- The impact of traditional ideologies and cosmologies on political and violent conflicts
- Buddhist-Muslim relations in Southeast Asia
- The Rohingya crisis
- The impact of aid and development policies on violent conflicts
Marte Nilsen is a Senior Researcher at PRIO. She coordinates the Research School on Peace and Conflict - a joint initiative of the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and PRIO. She also coordinates PRIO's Religion research group.
Education
2012: Dr.philos., History of Religions, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University.
2005: Cand.philol., History of Religions, Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo.
2002: Cand.mag., History of Religions, Sociology, History, University of Oslo.
Language skills
Proficient: Norwegian, English.
Intermediate: German, Thai.
Basic: Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin).
2012 Burmese language course (1 week intensive), SOAS University of London.
2010 Thai language training, intermediate level (3 weeks), Chiang Mai Thai Language Center.
2006 Chinese language (KIN 1110-1120 1 year), University of Oslo.
Work Experience
2012 – Present: Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
2017 – Present: Coordinator. Research School on Peace and Conflict.
2007 – 2012: Doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Humanities and Theology, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University.
2006 – 2008: President, Attac Norway.
2005-2006: University board member, University of Oslo.
Teaching
2016 Web studies program developer – Religion and Conflict, Bjørknes Uni. College.
2015 Main lecturer – Religion and Conflict, Bjørknes University College.
2015 Main lecturer – History of Religions, Norwegian School of Theology.
2013 Guest lecturer – Religion and Politics, University of Oslo.
2010 Guest lecturer – Terror in the Name of God, Lund University.
2006 Guest lecturer – Religion and Globalisation, University of Oslo.
Dissemination
Op-eds
"Ingen er i stand til å fylle Kong Bhumibols sko", Aftenposten, 13.10.2016
"Are We Nearing an End to Buddhist Extremism in Myanmar?", Southeast Asia Globe, 02.11.2016
"Double Marginalisation of Myanmar's Ethnic Minorities", Myanmar Times, 26.04.2016
"Myanmar's Ethnic Minorities Marginalised More", East Asia Forum, 13.04.2016
"The Rise of Political Buddhism in Myanmar", Tricycle, 06.06.2015
"Buddhist Nationalism Threatens Myanmar's Democratic Transition", East Asia Forum, 12. 03.2015
"Norges balansekunst i Myanmar", NRK Ytring, 17.10.2014
"Farlig Folketelling", Dages Næringsliv, 08.10.2014
"Thailands skjøre demokrati" NRK Ytring, 28.05.2014
"Politisk krise i Thailand", Forsvarets forum Nr. 3, 2014
"Slaget om Bangkok", NRK Ytring, 17.01.2014
"Hva nå, Thailand?", Dagsavisen, 12.06.2010
"Opprøret i Thailand", Dagbladet, 16.04.2009
"Elitenes kamp", VG, 14.09.2008
Television and Radio appearances (sample)
Thai Politics: Nyhetslunsj, NRK 06.05.2019
Thai Politics: TV2 Nyhetskanalen, 06.05.2019
Thai Politics: NRK Alltid Nyheter, 25.03.2019
Thai Politics: Urix på lørdag, NRK P2, 23.03.2019
Thai Politics: Studio 2, NRK P2, 06.03.2019
Myanmar Politics: Urix, NRK 2, 20.09.2017
Thai Politics: Ytring, NRK P2, 14.05.2017
Thai Politics: Norgesglasset, NRK P1, 13.10.2016
Thai Politics: Urix, NRK2, 12.10.2016
Thai Politics: Her og Nå, NRK P1, 12.08 2016
Thai Politics: Nyhetskanalen, 10pm. TV2 11.08.2016
Thai Politics: Nyhetsmorgen, NRK P2, 08.08.2016
Myanmar Politics: Urix, NRK2 15.02.2016
Thai Politics: Dagsrevyen, NRK1, 18.08.2015
Myanmar Politics: Urix NRK2, 15.03.2016.
Myanmar Politics: Nyhetsettermiddag NRK P2, 11.05.2015
Thai Politics: Norgesglasset NRK P1, 23.05.2014
Thai Politics: Dagsnytt 18 NRK2, 22.05.2014
Thai Politics: Nyhetsmorgen P2, 03.02.2014
Myanmar Politics: Urix NRK2, 14.11.2012
Thai Politics: Aktuelt NRK2, 19.05.2010
Thai Politics: Dagsnytt 18 NRK2, 18.05.2010
Thai Politics: Dagsnytt 18 NRK2, 19.05.2010
An Appraisal of Philippines-China Security Relations under the Duterte Administration (2016–2020)
PRIO Paper
“We Are Alive, but Have No Life”: Rohingya Refugees, Deprived of the Prospects for a Future
Book Chapter in Masks of Authoritarianism: Hegemony, Power and Public Life in Bangladesh
China in Myanmar: Complex Engagements, Complicated Relations
PRIO Policy Brief
Perceptions of Rights and the Politics of Humanitarian Aid in Myanmar
Journal Article in The European Journal of Development Research
No Peace in a Ceasefire: Women's Agency in the Kachin Conflict
Book Chapter in Women Peace and Security in Myanmar: Between Feminism and Ethnopolitics
Will Myanmar’s Northern Alliance Join the Peace Process?
PRIO Policy Brief
Mapping Education Programmes for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
PRIO Policy Brief
Preventing a Lost Generation: Community-led education by Rohingya refugees
PRIO Policy Brief
The Politics of Humanitarian Aid to Myanmar: Competing Strategies among Norwegian Aid Organizations
PRIO Policy Brief
Evaluation of Norwegian Efforts to Ensure Policy Coherence for Development
Report - External Series
INSPIRE Seminar Series Autumn 2021
Please be invited and save the dates for the INSPIRE seminar series autumn 2021! The seminars will take place monthly, on Wednesdays from 12:00-13:00 CET, online, with invited researchers and artists.
Klo Kwe Moo Kham Successfully Defends Master's Thesis
Klo Kwe Moo Kham has successfully defended his thesis "The Quest for Peace in Kawthoolei: The Strategies, Outcomes, and Sustainability of Peacebuilding in Southeast Myanmar, 2012-2020".
Congratulations Klo!
New Online Exhibition from the TRANSFORM Project
In societies at war or facing severe repression, what motivates individuals to take action for social justice when doing so involves great risk and uncertainty? How do such small but often heroic everyday acts of common people inspire larger transformations? And what is the impact of storytelling about everyday acts that challenge inequalities and injustices in places like Myanmar, Somaliland and Syria?
The TRANSFORM research team has grappled with these questions for four years, and you will find some answers in this online exhibition.
Artistic Encounters in War and Violent Conflict: New Platform for the INSPIRE Project Launched
On June 3rd 2021, the INSPIRE research platform was launched with a live performance by Faytinga and a presentation of artwork by Diala Brisly. The research platform can be explored at inspire.gallery
Call for Applications: Three New PhD Positions at PRIO
PRIO invites applications for three Doctoral Researcher positions.
POPAGANDA – Funding in Place for Project
How do political opposition groups in Myanmar and Thailand use popular culture and art to generate legitimacy for their political causes and propagate their messages?
NORHED II funding for global network on Peace and Conflict and Human Rights research
Norad has awarded funding through its NORHED II scheme for a six-year project to strengthen higher education institutions' ability to produce high-quality research and teaching. The project was initiated by The Norwegian Center for Human Rights (NCHR) and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) in partnership with five leading institutions in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Stateless in the Bengali borderlands — Funding in Place for New Project
The project will investigate the current crisis of statelessness affecting millions of people in the Bengali borderlands, including the Rohingya population of Myanmar and Bengali Muslims in the Northeast Indian state of Assam.
PRIO's Youth & Peacebuilding Research
Next Tuesday December 8th at 14.00 CET (Oslo time) we will have the PRIO Annual Peace Address, this time with young peacebuilders Hajer Sharief and Ilwad Elman.
On this occasion we wanted to highlight projects and research that focus on youth activism. We're sharing our work on young engagement in political change, because social movements that turn into positive societal transformation are not only initiated by people in power, but very often are initiated or inspired by youth trying to improve their communities. Here are some of the projects showing the importance of youth in peacebuilding.
Myanmar Land Rights Activism in New Animation from PRIO
What drives the small but often heroic everyday acts of people in their attempts to challenge dehumanization and abuse in violent conflict? PRIO is proud to share the first of a series of three animations and comics from Myanmar, Syria and Somaliland, made for the TRANSFORM project in collaboration with PositiveNegatives.
INSPIRE Seminar Series: Protest Aesthetics in Motion
INSPIRE Seminar Series: Guy Elhanan
INSPIRE seminar series: On Fearless Love: Tradition, Service, and Social Change
Fighting for Social Justice
INSPIRE seminar series: Mother, Singer, Survivor of Liberia’s Civil War and Refugee as Community Builder
Social Media in Armed Conflict: Conference Programme
Rallying for Democracy? Thailand's Latest Student Protests
Political Agency and Moral Action in Times of War
Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
Aesthetic Nationalism: The Dance of War and Exile along the Thai-Myanmar Border
Pop Culture, Art, and Indigenous Ideas of Legitimacy in Struggles over Democratization and Peace (POPAGANDA)
Building peace along the Belt and Road? Chinese security assistance to Myanmar and The Philippines
Inspirational Creative Practice: The Work of Artists after War and Violent Conflict (INSPIRE)
EducAid: Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees from Myanmar Living in Bangladesh
