Ragnar Weilandt

Ragnar Weilandt is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, conducting research within the Reconfiguring EU Democracy Support (REDEMOS) project. His work centers on European Union external action with specific focus on Euro-Mediterranean relations and political dynamics in West Asia and North Africa.

Education:

• PhD in EU democracy promotion in Tunisia, jointly awarded by Université libre de Bruxelles and University of Warwick through the GEM programme

Dr. Weilandt's research examines the complex interplay between security imperatives, stability concerns, and democratic governance in EU external relations. His scholarship critically analyzes EU democracy promotion efforts in Tunisia and Morocco, investigating how crises like the Covid-19 pandemic accelerate democratic backsliding while exploring the contested reception of EU norms in recipient states. His work reveals persistent tensions between EU normative aspirations and practical implementation challenges in volatile political contexts.

Analysis of his 2018-2025 publications shows consistent thematic focus on democracy support mechanisms in the Mediterranean and Eastern neighbourhood, with increasing attention to conceptual frameworks for evaluating success/failure in democracy building. His interdisciplinary approach bridges political science, international relations, and area studies, frequently employing comparative case analysis of Tunisia, Morocco, and Eastern European states to expose limitations in EU democracy promotion strategies.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards documented in available sources

As a postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Weilandt currently serves as a researcher within the REDEMOS project framework rather than as a primary advisor. His work receives institutional support through NTNU's research infrastructure and project-specific funding for the REDEMOS initiative, which examines EU democracy support reconfiguration in response to global democratic challenges.

Dr. Weilandt operates within the REDEMOS project team at NTNU's Dragvoll campus, collaborating with international researchers including Anna Khakee and Madalina Dobrescu. His research contributes to NTNU's political science expertise in EU external relations, with particular emphasis on developing more nuanced frameworks for understanding democracy support effectiveness in complex political environments.