Audun Løvlie

Audun Løvlie is a researcher at the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism (DIPA) at the University of Bergen, focusing on the Children’s Right to Participation project. His academic background includes a PhD in Political Science (2023) from the Department of Government at the University of Bergen, with a thesis analyzing justifications in Norwegian child protection cases. He holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology, and previously worked in acute psychiatry and data protection.

• Education: PhD in Political Science (University of Bergen, 2023); Master’s and Bachelor’s in Sociology (University of Bergen).
• Research Interests: Expert roles in legal decision-making, state intervention in private lives, and child protection policies. Specific focus on migrant families, violence cases, and judicial justifications.

His research explores how legal systems balance state intervention with individual rights, particularly in child welfare contexts. Recent work includes analyzing public acceptance of child protection measures involving migrants and comparing violence cases in migrant vs. non-migrant families. Collaborations include projects on Nordic child protection systems and legal legitimacy challenges.

Publications span journals like Children and Youth Services Review and Nordic Journal on Law and Society, addressing topics such as evidence in child protection cases and judicial guideline adherence. His work bridges sociology, political science, and law to inform policy and practice.

Outside academia, Audun has worked in acute psychiatry and data protection, shaping his interdisciplinary approach. He is currently preparing lectures and researching expert knowledge’s role in judicial decisions.