International Peace Research Institute, Oslo
Encyclopedia
The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) is an independent peace studies institution, based in Oslo
, Norway
.
. The institute was an affiliate of the Norwegian Institute for Social Research
in Oslo in 1959 and became an independent institute in 1966. It was one of the first centres of peace research in the world, and it is Norway’s only peace research institute. The institute's director since 2009 is Kristian Berg Harpviken
. Since 2005, the institute has been located in the former gas works building in central Oslo
.
PRIO is an independent foundation, governed by a seven-member board. The board includes two PRIO employees, two members appointed by the Research Council of Norway, one member appointed by the Institute for Social Research
, one by the University of Oslo, and one by the Nordic International Studies Association. The institute is not affiliated with the Norwegian Nobel Institute
, The Nobel Peace Center
, or the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights.
Previous PRIO directors are, chronologically, Johan Galtung
(1959–69), Asbjørn Eide (1970, 1980–81), Helge Hveem
(1971), Nils Petter Gleditsch
(1972, 1977–78), Kjell Skjelsbæk (1973–74), Ole Kristian Holthe (1975–76), Tord Høivik (1979–80, 1984–86), Marek Thee (1981–83), Sverre Lodgaard
(1986–92), Hilde Henriksen Waage
(const., 1992–93), Dan Smith
(1993–2001), Stein Tønnesson
(2001–09) and Kristian Berg Harpviken
(2009- ). Since Galtung's resignation in 1969, the institute staff elected a leader for one year at a time. In 1986 this was changed to a three year period, and again in 1993 to a maximum of two consecutive four year periods.
PRIOs first chairman of the board was Erik Rinde
(1966–79), director of Institute for Social Research
. He was succeeded by Torstein Eckhoff
(1979–1986), Bernt Bull
(1987–94), Frida Nokken
(1995-00), Helge Pharo
(2000–2003), Øyvind Østerud (2004–06) and Bernt Aardal (2007-).
, sociology
, anthropology
, psychology
, human geography
, history
, history of religion and philosophy
. Output from the research is primarily published as articles in international peer-reviewed journals.
Approximately 15 percent of the institute's budget is made up of a core grant from the Research Council of Norway, and the remaining 85 per cent is funded on project basis. The two largest project funders are the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
. Other funders include the European Union
, the World Bank
, and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence
.
In Oslo, PRIO hosts the Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT). This is a joint initiative of PRIO, the Norwegian Red Cross
and the Norwegian Church Aid
to help block the spread of small arms
to areas where they are likely to be used in warfare, armed violence or human rights abuses.
The staff comprises a core group of 40-50 full-time researchers and support staff. In addition, there are researchers with a part-time affiliation with PRIO, visiting scholars, interns and students. PRIO co-operates with the Australian National University
and with the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, in offering master programmes in international studies. PRIO owns two international journals, both edited at the institute and published by SAGE Publications
: Journal of Peace Research
and Security Dialogue
. In 2010, these journals were ranked 3rd and 10th in the ISI Journal Citation Report
, international relations field.
.
, Cyprus
, known as the PRIO Cyprus Centre. Through its network, projects and dialogue forums, the PRIO Cyprus Centre aims to foster cooperation between Greek Cypriots
and Turkish Cypriots
, and strengthen regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean
at large.
Research centres
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
History and governance
PRIO was founded in 1959 by a group of Norwegian researchers, among these Johan GaltungJohan Galtung
Johan Galtung is a Norwegian sociologist and the principal founder of the discipline of peace and conflict studies. He founded the Peace Research Institute Oslo in 1959, serving as its Director until 1970, and established the Journal of Peace Research in 1964...
. The institute was an affiliate of the Norwegian Institute for Social Research
Institute for Social Research
The Institute for Social Research is a research organization for sociology and continental philosophy, best known as the institutional home of the Frankfurt School and critical theory....
in Oslo in 1959 and became an independent institute in 1966. It was one of the first centres of peace research in the world, and it is Norway’s only peace research institute. The institute's director since 2009 is Kristian Berg Harpviken
Kristian Berg Harpviken
Kristian Berg Harpviken is a Norwegian sociologist and researcher, and since 2009 director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo...
. Since 2005, the institute has been located in the former gas works building in central Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
PRIO is an independent foundation, governed by a seven-member board. The board includes two PRIO employees, two members appointed by the Research Council of Norway, one member appointed by the Institute for Social Research
Institute for Social Research
The Institute for Social Research is a research organization for sociology and continental philosophy, best known as the institutional home of the Frankfurt School and critical theory....
, one by the University of Oslo, and one by the Nordic International Studies Association. The institute is not affiliated with the Norwegian Nobel Institute
Norwegian Nobel Institute
The Norwegian Nobel Institute was established in 1904 in Kristiania , Norway.The principal duty of the Nobel Institute is to assist the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the task of selecting the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and to organize the annual Nobel event in Oslo.The institute is situated...
, The Nobel Peace Center
Nobel Peace Center
Nobel Peace Center is a showcase for the Nobel Peace Prize and the ideals it represents. The Center is also an arena where culture and politics merge to promote involvement, debate and reflection around topics such as war, peace and conflict resolution....
, or the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights.
Previous PRIO directors are, chronologically, Johan Galtung
Johan Galtung
Johan Galtung is a Norwegian sociologist and the principal founder of the discipline of peace and conflict studies. He founded the Peace Research Institute Oslo in 1959, serving as its Director until 1970, and established the Journal of Peace Research in 1964...
(1959–69), Asbjørn Eide (1970, 1980–81), Helge Hveem
Helge Hveem
Helge Hveem is a Norwegian political scientist and politician for the Liberal Party.He was born in Bærum, and grew up at Økri farm. and graduated with the mag.art. degree in 1968. In 1965 he chaired the Norwegian Students' Society. He was employed at the University of Oslo in 1980, and was...
(1971), Nils Petter Gleditsch
Nils Petter Gleditsch
Nils Petter Gleditsch is a Norwegian sociologist and political scientist. He is Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo...
(1972, 1977–78), Kjell Skjelsbæk (1973–74), Ole Kristian Holthe (1975–76), Tord Høivik (1979–80, 1984–86), Marek Thee (1981–83), Sverre Lodgaard
Sverre Lodgaard
Sverre Lodgaard is a Norwegian political scientist and politician for the Labour Party.He graduated from the University of Oslo with the cand.polit. degree in 1971...
(1986–92), Hilde Henriksen Waage
Hilde Henriksen Waage
Hilde Henriksen Waage is a Norwegian historian.Waage took the Cand.philol. degree at the University of Oslo in 1987 and the Dr.philos. degree in 1997, both in history. She became a professor at the University of Oslo in 2007...
(const., 1992–93), Dan Smith
Dan Smith
Dan Smith may refer to:* Dan Smith , retired American Army colonel and author* Dan Smith , illustrator and graphic artist* Dan Smith , Canadian ice hockey player...
(1993–2001), Stein Tønnesson
Stein Tønnesson
Stein D. Tønnesson is a Norwegian historian. He was the director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo from 2001 to 2009, when he was replaced by Kristian Berg Harpviken...
(2001–09) and Kristian Berg Harpviken
Kristian Berg Harpviken
Kristian Berg Harpviken is a Norwegian sociologist and researcher, and since 2009 director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo...
(2009- ). Since Galtung's resignation in 1969, the institute staff elected a leader for one year at a time. In 1986 this was changed to a three year period, and again in 1993 to a maximum of two consecutive four year periods.
PRIOs first chairman of the board was Erik Rinde
Erik Rinde
Erik Rinde was a Norwegian jurist who became a pioneer of social sciences in Norway.The social sciences witnessed an impetus worldwide after the end of World War II, but were little developed in Norway. From 1946 a group of researchers led by philosopher Arne Næss sought to improve this field of...
(1966–79), director of Institute for Social Research
Institute for Social Research
The Institute for Social Research is a research organization for sociology and continental philosophy, best known as the institutional home of the Frankfurt School and critical theory....
. He was succeeded by Torstein Eckhoff
Torstein Eckhoff
Torstein Einang Eckhoff was a Norwegian civil servant and professor of law at the University of Oslo.-Personal life:...
(1979–1986), Bernt Bull
Bernt Bull
Bernt Bull is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.He is a son of Brynjulf Bull, another Labour Party politician. Bernt Bull holds the cand.jur. degree...
(1987–94), Frida Nokken
Frida Nokken
Frida Nokken is a Norwegian civil servant.She was born in Fredrikstad. A cand.polit. by education, she worked for Statskonsult from 1975, the Financial Supervisory Authority from 1989 and Posten Norge from 1992. From 1995 to 1999 she served as director of the Norwegian Customs and Excise Authorities...
(1995-00), Helge Pharo
Helge Pharo
Helge Pharo is a Norwegian historian.He graduated from the University of Oslo with a cand.philol. degree in 1970. From 1972 he was a research assistant at the University of Oslo, and after a tenure as researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs 1974-1978 he moved back to the...
(2000–2003), Øyvind Østerud (2004–06) and Bernt Aardal (2007-).
Research
The institute's purpose, as formulated in the statutes, is "to engage in research concerning the conditions for peaceful relations between nations, groups and individuals." Researchers come from a variety of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, including political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, human geography
Human geography
Human geography is one of the two major sub-fields of the discipline of geography. Human geography is the study of the world, its people, communities, and cultures. Human geography differs from physical geography mainly in that it has a greater focus on studying human activities and is more...
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, history of religion and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. Output from the research is primarily published as articles in international peer-reviewed journals.
Approximately 15 percent of the institute's budget is made up of a core grant from the Research Council of Norway, and the remaining 85 per cent is funded on project basis. The two largest project funders are the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
. Other funders include the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and defence policy, and for the overall management and control of the activities of subordinate agencies. The ministry is located at Glacisgata 1, Oslo,...
.
In Oslo, PRIO hosts the Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT). This is a joint initiative of PRIO, the Norwegian Red Cross
Norwegian Red Cross
The Norwegian Red Cross was founded September 22, 1865 by prime minister Frederik Stang. In 1907 the Norwegian Ministry of Defence authorized the organization for voluntary medical aid in war...
and the Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid , "Kirkens Nødhjelp" in Norwegian, is an independent humanitarian and ecumenical organisation with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The organisation also has offices in 65 countries worldwide and receives funding from the Norwegian Protestant church, their institutions and...
to help block the spread of small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
to areas where they are likely to be used in warfare, armed violence or human rights abuses.
The staff comprises a core group of 40-50 full-time researchers and support staff. In addition, there are researchers with a part-time affiliation with PRIO, visiting scholars, interns and students. PRIO co-operates with the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
and with the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, in offering master programmes in international studies. PRIO owns two international journals, both edited at the institute and published by SAGE Publications
SAGE Publications
SAGE is an independent academic publisher of books, journals, and electronic products in the humanities and social sciences and the scientific, technical, and medical fields. SAGE was founded in 1965 by George McCune and Sara Miller McCune. The company is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California,...
: Journal of Peace Research
Journal of Peace Research
The Journal of Peace Research is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes scholarly articles and book reviews in the fields of peace studies, conflict resolution, and international security. Its scope is similar to that of the Journal of Conflict Resolution. Founded by Johan Galtung in 1964,...
and Security Dialogue
Security Dialogue
Security Dialogue is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes scholarly articles which combine contemporary theoretical analysis with challenges to public policy across a wide-ranging field of security studies. The journal’s editorial office is located at the Peace Research Institute Oslo ...
. In 2010, these journals were ranked 3rd and 10th in the ISI Journal Citation Report
Impact factor
The impact factor, often abbreviated IF, is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to articles published in science and social science journals. It is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field, with journals with higher impact factors deemed...
, international relations field.
Centre for the Study of Civil War
Since 2003, PRIO has hosted the Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW), one of the original 13 "Centres of Excellence" in Norway, a title awarded by the Research Council of Norway in 2002 after an extensive and competitive selection process led by international experts. Until 2007, CSCW was the only designated Centre of Excellence in Norway within the social sciences. The Director of the Centre is Scott GatesScott Gates (academic)
Scott Gates is an American political scientist and economist. He is currently director of Peace Research Institute Oslo 's Centre for the Study of Civil War , a Norwegian Center of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway...
.
Cyprus Centre
The institute maintains a centre in NicosiaNicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, known as the PRIO Cyprus Centre. Through its network, projects and dialogue forums, the PRIO Cyprus Centre aims to foster cooperation between Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community at 77% of the population. Greek Cypriots are mostly members of the Church of Cyprus, an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity...
and Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriots are the ethnic Turks and members of the Turkish-speaking ethnolinguistic community of the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The term is used to refer explicitly to the indigenous Turkish Cypriots, whose Ottoman Turkish forbears colonised the island in 1571...
, and strengthen regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean
Eastern Mediterranean
The Eastern Mediterranean is a term that denotes the countries geographically to the east of the Mediterranean Sea. This region is also known as Greater Syria or the Levant....
at large.
External links
Research centres