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Researcher

Ole Jacob Sending

Research Professor, Head of Center for Geopolitics
Ole_Jacob_Sending_11.jpg

Contactinfo and files

ojs@nupi.no
+(47) 924 68 459
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Summary

Ole Jacob Sending is Research Professor in the Research group for global order and diplomacy at NUPI.

Sending does research on global governance, with a particular focus on the role of international and non-governmental organizations in peacebuilding, humanitarian relief, and development. His publications have appeared, inter alia, in International Studies Quarterly, European Journal of International Relations, and International Theory.

Expertise

  • Development policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Peace operations
  • Humanitarian issues
  • Human rights
  • International organizations
  • United Nations

Education

2004 Dr. Polit., Department of Administration and Organization Theory, University of Bergen

1998 Master of Science, Political Science. Department of Political Science, SUNY, Albany, New York

1997 Cand. Mag., University of Bergen, Norway. (Economics, Political Science, Sociology)

Work Experience

2023- Research Professor, NUPI

2012-2023 Research Director, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)

2008-2009 Visiting Scholar, Fulbright Scholarship, Dept. of Sociology, UC Berkeley

2008- Senior Researcher, NUPI

2008-2014 Adjunct Senior Researcher, Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen

2006-2008 Senior Adviser, Policy Analysis Unit, Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway

2003- Senior Researcher, NUPI

2002 Visiting Research Fellow, Stanford University (SCANCOR)

1999-2003 Research Fellow, NUPI, PhD Student, University of Bergen

Aktivitet

Publications
Publications
Report

Trump 2.0 og internasjonal politikk

I denne spesialrapporten har Senter for geopolitikk samlet en rekke bidrag fra forskere tilknyttet senteret, fra Fridtjof Nansen Institutt, Institutt for Forsvarsstudier, Universitetet i Oslo, UiT – Norges Arktiske Universitet og Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt. Bidragene setter søkelys på noen konkrete temaer som inntak til å forstå et USA i endring og hva det vil kunne bety for andre stater, og for utviklingen på konkrete politikkfelt. Rapporten har særlig fokus på hva disse endringene, hver for seg og samlet, betyr for Europa og Norge. En oppdatert versjon ble publisert 12.06.25, klokken 12.40.

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • International economics
  • Economic growth
  • Trade
  • International investments
  • Globalisation
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • The Middle East and North Africa
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
  • Conflict
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • The EU
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  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • International economics
  • Economic growth
  • Trade
  • International investments
  • Globalisation
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • The Middle East and North Africa
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
  • Conflict
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • The EU
Publications
Publications
Op-ed

Trump, debt and the risk of an own goal

The bond market can bring down governments and force shifts in economic policy, even in great powers, writes Ole Jacob Sending in this op-ed. « I wish I could come back as the bond market. You can intimidate everybody.» This is how James Carville, advisor to Bill Clinton, described the power wielded by the bond market. In 2025, Carville’s quote has regained relevance. The United States’ position as an economic hegemon is under pressure, not least due to a combination of high debt levels and the Trump administration’s irresponsible economic policies. The bond market may be the clearest example of how political power is grounded in economic power – particularly in a globalized world. The effects of this market are felt across all economies, including those of the great powers.

  • International economics
  • International investments
  • North America
  • International economics
  • International investments
  • North America
Event
09:00 - 10:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI, Rosenkrantz' gate 22
Engelsk
Trump_Xi_Putin.png
Event
09:00 - 10:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI, Rosenkrantz' gate 22
Engelsk
13. Feb 2025
Event
09:00 - 10:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI, Rosenkrantz' gate 22
Engelsk

Breakfast seminar: When expertise becomes power politics – US perspectives on Russia and China

What can we learn from US engagement towards China and Russia after the Cold War? And what role should experts play in the shaping of foreign policy?

Event
09:00 - 10:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI
Engelsk
Modi_G20 i 2023_Foto_IMAGO_NTB_169.jpg
Event
09:00 - 10:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI
Engelsk
5. Feb 2025
Event
09:00 - 10:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI
Engelsk

Breakfast seminar: India's rise and great power competition

India is the world’s largest democracy, has high economic growth, and is one of very few countries that cooperates with both Russia and the US. How does India balance between Russia, China and the US?

Event
09:30 - 11:00 Europe/Oslo
Litteraturhuset - Skramsalen
Engelsk
Uten tittel (11).png
Event
09:30 - 11:00 Europe/Oslo
Litteraturhuset - Skramsalen
Engelsk
14. Nov 2024
Event
09:30 - 11:00 Europe/Oslo
Litteraturhuset - Skramsalen
Engelsk

USA after the election: Consequences for the Nordics and the geopolitical landscape

On November 14, researchers from five leading foreign policy institutes in the Nordic region will gather to analyze the consequences of the U.S. election.

Event
11:00 - 12:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI
Engelsk
Italienske marinefartøy besøker Japan august 2024_Foto NTB.jpg
Event
11:00 - 12:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI
Engelsk
13. Sept 2024
Event
11:00 - 12:30 Europe/Oslo
NUPI
Engelsk

Evolving Linkages Between Indo-Pacific and European Security: Challenges and Their Dynamics

NUPI is proud to host Aiko Takahara, Distinguished Visiting Professor, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University, Senior Adjunct Fellow of the Japan Institute of International Affairs, and Distinguished Research Fellow of the Japan Forum on International Relations.

How to Become a Hegemon
Podcast

How to Become a Hegemon

In this episode NUPI's Ole Jacob Sending sits down with Professor Dan Nexon of Georgetown University to talk about how international political lea...

  • International economics
  • International investments
  • Globalisation
  • Foreign policy
  • Governance
  • International economics
  • International investments
  • Globalisation
  • Foreign policy
  • Governance
Articles
Articles

PODCAST: How to Become a Hegemon

  • Defence
  • International economics
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • North America
  • Governance
  • Historical IR
Articles
New research
Articles
New research

Government allocates NOK 45 million to Geopolitics Research Centre led by NUPI

  • Defence and security
  • Security policy
  • Global economy
  • Globalisation
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • Asia
  • North America
  • Global governance
  • Governance
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