A historian and area specialist with experience from research, strategy development, information analysis, planning and administration of projects. Substantial professional experience from the non-government sector within the fields of policy advice, humanitarian aid and long-term development co-operation.
Øystein H. Rolandsen
Research Professor
Email: oystein@prio.org
X: @oysteinhr
Interests and experience
- Organised violence, African rebels and government counter-insurgency strategies
- African militaries and security force assistance (SFA)
- Humanitarian policy and practices
- History and current affairs of the two Sudans
- Critical approaches to peace negotiations and post-war interventions
A historian and area specialist with experience from research, strategy development, information analysis, planning and administration of projects. Substantial professional experience from the non-government sector within the fields of policy advice, humanitarian aid and long-term development co-operation.
Personal profiles on other sites*Google Scholar CitationsAcademia* & Research GateLinkedIn
Language SkillsProficient: Norwegian, EnglishBasic skills: German, Italian
Work Experience2020 - Research Professor2017 - Co-director PRIO Centre for Culture and Violent Conflict
2010-2020: Senior Researcher, PRIO2005-2010: Researcher, Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO2003-2005: Advisor, Norwegian People’s Aid2002: Senior Executive Officer, Norwegian Centre for Human rights
Academic Visitorships2014: African Studies Centre, Oxford University2012-2013: Global Security Institute/Dep. of History, Durham University2007: Programme of African Studies, Northwestern University
Education2010: Ph.D. History, University of Oslo2003: Cand. philol. History, University of Oslo2000: MA African History, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London1999: Cand. mag. History and Political Science, University of Oslo
Projects
All projects
Apr 2021 – Dec 2025
Pop Culture, Art, and Indigenous Ideas of Legitimacy in Struggles over Democratization and Peace (POPAGANDA)
Pop Culture, Art, and Indigenous Ideas of Legitimacy in Struggles over Democratization and Peace (POPAGANDA)
Jul 2013 –
Conflict Trends
Conflict Trends
PRIO Fieldwork Network (FIWON)
PRIO Centre on Culture and Violent Conflict
Feb 2023 – Dec 2024
Transparency and inclusivity in peace negotiations (TRIPEN)
Transparency and inclusivity in peace negotiations (TRIPEN)
Sep 2020 – Dec 2021
Building peace along the Belt and Road? Chinese security assistance to Myanmar and The Philippines
Building peace along the Belt and Road? Chinese security assistance to Myanmar and The Philippines
Jul 2020 – Jun 2024
Working Through Violence; SMEs and the SDGs in Fragile Urban Spaces
Working Through Violence; SMEs and the SDGs in Fragile Urban Spaces
Feb 2020 – Dec 2022
Security force capacity and professionalism in the Sahel
Security force capacity and professionalism in the Sahel
Sep 2018 – Dec 2019
US Security Force Assistance in the Horn of Africa
US Security Force Assistance in the Horn of Africa
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 Hoelscher et al. (2025)
“Peace is when we are working”: Insecurity and small business survival in Kampala
“Peace is when we are working”: Insecurity and small business survival in Kampala
Journal article in Business Horizons
Antoni Sastre Bel & Øystein H. Rolandsen (2025)
Gravitating toward the Middle East: How Sudan’s changing regional context fuels conflict and hinders mediation
Gravitating toward the Middle East: How Sudan’s changing regional context fuels conflict and hinders mediation
Laurie Nathan et al. (2025)
Taking the bull by the horns: Policy report from the project on mediation in regionalized intra-state conflicts: lessons from peace processes
Taking the bull by the horns: Policy report from the project on mediation in regionalized intra-state conflicts: lessons from peace processes
Antoni Sastre Bel & Øystein H. Rolandsen (2024)
The EU and Peace Facilitation Organizations: Peace Multipliers or Cats to Be Herded?
The EU and Peace Facilitation Organizations: Peace Multipliers or Cats to Be Herded?
PRIO Policy Brief
Simone Tholens & Øystein H. Rolandsen (2024)
Digital Transformations, Inclusion and Confidentiality in Peace Mediation
Digital Transformations, Inclusion and Confidentiality in Peace Mediation
PRIO Policy Brief
Øystein H. Rolandsen & Kjetil Selvik (2023)
Disposable rebels: US military assistance to insurgents in the Syrian war
Disposable rebels: US military assistance to insurgents in the Syrian war
Journal article in Mediterranean Politics
Øystein H. Rolandsen & Niagalé Bagayoko (2023)
A hidden conundrum: Security assistance and informality in the Sahel
A hidden conundrum: Security assistance and informality in the Sahel
PRIO Policy Brief
Øystein H. Rolandsen, Maggie Dwyer & William Reno (2021)
Security Force Assistance to Fragile States: A Framework of Analysis
Security Force Assistance to Fragile States: A Framework of Analysis
Journal article in Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding
Nicholas Marsh & Øystein H. Rolandsen (2021)
Fragmented We Fall: Security Sector Cohesion and the Impact of Foreign Security Force Assistance in Mali
Fragmented We Fall: Security Sector Cohesion and the Impact of Foreign Security Force Assistance in Mali
Journal article in Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding
Julio Amador III et al. (2021)
An Appraisal of Philippines-China Security Relations under the Duterte Administration (2016–2020)
An Appraisal of Philippines-China Security Relations under the Duterte Administration (2016–2020)
PRIO Paper
Latest news
All news
Thursday, 14 Nov 2024
PhD level course on Culture, Conflict and Politics
PhD level course on Culture, Conflict and Politics
As part of the Norhed project, Partnership for Peace: Better Higher Education for Resilient Societies, PRIO held the PhD level course Culture, Conflict and Politics: Introduction to interpretive theory and methodology, 29-31 October.
Friday, 2 Sep 2022
Minister Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol Visits PRIO
Minister Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol Visits PRIO
Minister Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol from South Sudan visited PRIO today.
Thursday, 9 Dec 2021
Security Force Assistance to Fragile States
Security Force Assistance to Fragile States
Security Force Assistance (SFA) – the training and equipping of a foreign security force – represent a common form of intervention into fragile states.
Friday, 19 Nov 2021
Doing Business During a Crisis - PRIO Research in Harvard Business Review
Doing Business During a Crisis - PRIO Research in Harvard Business Review
PRIO researchers have contributed to a survey of seven cities around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Monday, 28 Jun 2021
PRIO Researchers Review the Norwegian Strategy on the Sahel
PRIO Researchers Review the Norwegian Strategy on the Sahel
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign has asked PRIO to carry out an external review of its Strategy for Norway's efforts in the Sahel region 2018–2020 in Africa.
Wednesday, 13 Jan 2021
POPAGANDA – Funding in Place for Project
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?
Friday, 18 Dec 2020
New Research Professor at PRIO: Øystein H. Rolandsen
New Research Professor at PRIO: Øystein H. Rolandsen
Following an external academic evaluation, the PRIO Board has awarded Research Professor competence to Øystein H.
Friday, 4 Dec 2020
PRIO's Youth & Peacebuilding Research
PRIO's Youth & Peacebuilding Research
Read up before the PRIO Annual Peace Address 2020
Friday, 7 Feb 2020
MoD Funding for Project on Security Forces in the Sahel
MoD Funding for Project on Security Forces in the Sahel
The Sahel region is increasingly affected by transnational security threats which spill across national borders, such as insurgency, terror attacks, uncontrolled migration and illicit trafficking in commodities.
Thursday, 25 Apr 2019
NORGLOBAL2 Kickoff Features Presentations of Three New PRIO Projects
NORGLOBAL2 Kickoff Features Presentations of Three New PRIO Projects
The Norwegian Research Council’s program NORGLOBAL2 held its kick-off meeting for newly funded research projects at NORAD, on 25 April 2019, with participants from the MFA, NORAD, RCN, and researchers involved in the projects.
Latest events
All events
Thursday, 28 Nov 2024 10:30–12:30 UTC+01
Peace NGOs in Uncertain Times: Navigating Transparency and Inclusivity During Trump’s Second Term
Peace NGOs in Uncertain Times: Navigating Transparency and Inclusivity During Trump’s Second Term
Thursday, 29 Aug 2024 16:00–18:00 UTC+02
Antikkens drama speiler nåtidens asylproblematikk, demokratiutvikling og konflikt
Antikkens drama speiler nåtidens asylproblematikk, demokratiutvikling og konflikt
Monday, 12 Feb 2024 13:00–14:30 UTC+01
Exhibition: "The Lost Tapes of A Peoples’ Tribunal, 1982"
Exhibition: "The Lost Tapes of A Peoples’ Tribunal, 1982"
30–31 Mar 2023
The Rise of Security Assistance: Evolution, Effects and Order(ing) in and of a Global Practice
The Rise of Security Assistance: Evolution, Effects and Order(ing) in and of a Global Practice
Thursday, 5 Nov 2020 17:30–20:00 UTC+01
POSTPONED How can comics tell truth to power and give voice to the oppressed
POSTPONED How can comics tell truth to power and give voice to the oppressed
Friday, 11 Sep 2020 11:00–12:30 UTC+02
The Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Providing Security Force Assistance
The Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Providing Security Force Assistance
Tuesday, 14 Jan 2020 08:45–16:00 UTC+01
What Role for Norwegian Soldiers in Fragile States?
What Role for Norwegian Soldiers in Fragile States?
Thursday, 28 Nov 2019 14:00–17:30 UTC+01
European Security Force Assistance and the rise of Great Power Competition
European Security Force Assistance and the rise of Great Power Competition
Wednesday, 27 Nov 2019 12:30–14:00 UTC+01
The Dilemmas of Western Engagement in the Syrian Civil War: How to avoid responsibility while governing the outcome?
The Dilemmas of Western Engagement in the Syrian Civil War: How to avoid responsibility while governing the outcome?
Tuesday, 28 May 2019 12:30–14:00 UTC+02
Africa and Security Force Assistance
Africa and Security Force Assistance
Latest comments
All comments
Thursday, 1 Jun 2017
An overview: South Sudan’s civil war
An overview: South Sudan’s civil war
Friday, 27 Nov 2015
Norway’s Role in South Sudan’s Independence
Norway’s Role in South Sudan’s Independence
Thursday, 11 Jun 2015
A cause of war or an impetus for peace? Uganda’s economic interests in South Sudan
A cause of war or an impetus for peace? Uganda’s economic interests in South Sudan
Friday, 29 May 2015
The cost of Uganda’s military intervention in South Sudan
The cost of Uganda’s military intervention in South Sudan
Friday, 8 May 2015
Dead economy walking in South Sudan
Dead economy walking in South Sudan
Friday, 5 Dec 2014
Whither UNMISS?
Whither UNMISS?
Friday, 28 Nov 2014
State Briefing: Lakes State
State Briefing: Lakes State
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2014
When will the South Sudan Peace Process move beyond delays and deadlocks?
When will the South Sudan Peace Process move beyond delays and deadlocks?
Tuesday, 16 Sep 2014
State Briefing: Central Equatoria State
State Briefing: Central Equatoria State
Friday, 29 Aug 2014
State Briefing: Jonglei State
State Briefing: Jonglei State
In the media
November 2025
PRIO researcher Øystein H. Rolandsen was interviewed about a recent surge in conflict in Sudan, by the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.
PRIO started listing media appearances on profiles in 2023. Earlier media appearances may not be listed.
