معرفی
Øystein H. Rolandsen is a Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), a position he has held since 2020 after being awarded Research Professor competence following an external academic evaluation. He also serves as Co-director of the PRIO Centre for Culture and Violent Conflict since 2017. Prior to his current role, he was a Senior Researcher at PRIO from 2010 to 2020 and a Researcher at the Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO from 2005 to 2010.
Dr. Rolandsen earned his Ph.D. in History from the University of Oslo in 2010, building on earlier academic credentials including a Cand. philol. in History from the University of Oslo (2003), an MA in African History from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (2000), and a Cand. mag. in History and Political Science from the University of Oslo (1999). He has held academic visitorships at Oxford University's African Studies Centre (2014), Durham University's Global Security Institute/Department of History (2012-2013), and Northwestern University's Programme of African Studies (2007).
His research expertise centers on organized violence, African conflicts, security force assistance, and the political dynamics of Sudan and South Sudan. Dr. Rolandsen examines how security assistance programs interact with local political structures in fragile states, often producing unintended consequences contrary to donor intentions. His work challenges conventional theoretical frameworks like the principal-agent model in explaining foreign military assistance dynamics. He also investigates digital transformations in peace mediation processes and the role of non-governmental organizations in conflict resolution.
Dr. Rolandsen's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on security sector dynamics in fragile contexts, particularly examining how fragmentation within recipient states' security sectors undermines the effectiveness of foreign assistance. His research spans multiple geographic regions including the Sahel, South Sudan, Syria, and Southeast Asia, demonstrating his ability to identify cross-regional patterns in security assistance implementation and outcomes.
He currently leads or participates in several major research projects including Pop Culture, Art, and Indigenous Ideas of Legitimacy in Struggles over Democratization and Peace (POPAGANDA, 2021-2025), Transparency and Inclusivity in Peace Negotiations (TRIPEN, 2023-2024), and The Impact of Security Force Assistance on State Fragility (SFAssist, 2018-2023).
Dr. Rolandsen serves as an Editorial Board member for the Centre for Peace and Development (CPDS) Journal at the University of Juba, South Sudan, and is Editor in chief for the blog Monitoring South Sudan @PRIOSouthSudan. His professional background includes practical experience in humanitarian aid and development cooperation through roles as an Advisor at Norwegian People's Aid (2003-2005) and Senior Executive Officer at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (2002).
