Researchers of civil-military relations study the evolving
relationship between the military, society and politics, and the ways in
which armed forces have adapted to contemporary challenges.
There is particular emphasis on the development of Norway’s armed forces in a broad international perspective. Researchers explore this complex field from both a historical and contemporary perspective.
Methodologically, the Centre draws on international disciplines such as military sociology and the “war and society” approach to military history.
The Centre also hosts a multidisciplinary research programme focusing on strategic challenges associated with nuclear weapons.
---------------------Military operations
Increasing involvement in international operations has brought about major changes in the structure and mentality of the Armed Forces.
The military profession is evolving, as are the preconditions for society’s support of the Armed Forces, and of Norway’s role in the North Atlantic defence cooperation.
The Centre focuses its research on the operational and organisational lessons that can be learned from participating in international operations.
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_407_leneekhaugeninternat | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/Military-operations/lene-ekhaugen-international-operations-potentials-limitations | | Lene Ekhaugen: Potentials and limitations for a “comprehensive approach” in international operations | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=673 |
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_408_torunnhaalandafghani | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/Military-operations/torunn-haaland-afghanistan-experiential-learning | | Torunn Laugen Haaland: Experiential learning in Afghanistan | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=674 |
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Defence reform
The institute's programme for research on military change addresses questions such as:
- How have the reforms changed the Armed Forces?
- What triggered the reforms? To what degree have the objectives been met?
- What can the Armed Forces and other public sectors learn from such processes?
- What lessons can the Norwegian defence sector learn from similar processes in other countries?
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_444_magnushakenstadrefor | /ifs/en/Research/Defence-reform/magnus-hakenstad-reforms-norwegian-police-armed-forces | | Magnus Håkenstad: Reforms in the Norwegian Police and Armed Forces | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=675 |
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_445_permartinnorheimmart | /ifs/en/Research/Defence-reform/per-martin-norheim-martinsen-defence-reform | | Per Martin Norheim-Martinsen: Defence reform | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=676 |
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_459_bjornmobechhanssendi | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/bjorn-mobech-hanssen-digitalization-military-sector | | Bjørn Mobech-Hanssen: Digitalisation in military sector | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=677 |
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_461_gjermundrongveddefen | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/gjermund-rongved-defence-reform-economic-policy | | Gjermund Rongved: Defence reform and economic policy | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=678 |
Military history and theory
Historical studies can illustrate how social change affects military institutions and are especially applicable to the evolution of military theory.
We analyse the historical development of military thought, carry out independent evaluations of recent doctrine, and cover strategic thinking in certain regional powers. Scholars at the Centre produce articles and books on institutional histories, which serve to preserve the institutional memory of individual military units. The Institute of Defence Studies consistently emphasizes the need to link its methodology to that of the “War and Society” school of historical research.
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_413_rolfhobsonscandinavi | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/Military-history-and-theory/rolf-hobson-scandinavia-molotov-ribbentrop-pact | | Rolf Hobson: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Great Powers and Scandinavia, 1939–1941 | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=679 |
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_463_roaldgjelstenunknown | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/roald-gjelsten-unknown-submarines-norwegian-fjords | | Unknown submarines in Norwegian fjords and territorial waters | The project is an update of the study Fremmede ubåter i norske fjorder. Realitet eller myte? [Unknown submarines in Norwegian fjords. Reality or myth?] | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=680 |
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MILITARY SOCIOLOGY
The relationship between political and military institutions is a major theme of traditional military sociology.
Military sociology is a well-established discipline on the international stage, but one that has not made much headway in Scandinavia. Scholars at the Centre analyse this relationship in light of changes in security, technological and economic conditions, and study Norwegian military culture in a comparative perspective.
We also study specific groups in the military organisation, especially recruits and veterans.
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_409_elingustavsennorwegi | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/Military-sociology/elin-gustavsen-norwegian-afghanistan-veterans | | Elin Gustavsen: Research programme on Norwegian Afghanistan veterans | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=681 |
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The Norwegian Armed Forces in the Balkans
From 1992 until today more than 14,000 Norwegian soldiers have served in UN-led or NATO-led operations in the Balkans.
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_380_thenorwegianarmedfor | /ifs/en/Research/the-norwegian-armed-forces-in-the-balkans | /media/PubImages/Balkanseminar_nov_16_Ingress.jpg | The Norwegian Armed Forces in the Balkans | From 1992 until today more than 14,000 Norwegian soldiers have served in UN-led or NATO-led operations in the Balkans. | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=684 |
Researchers from other centres on projects about related topics
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_411_larshaugomturkisharm | /ifs/en/Research/Civil-military-relations/Military-sociology/lars-haugom-turkish-armed-forces | | Lars Haugom: The Turkish Armed Forces and civilianisation of civil-military ties | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=682 |
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_397_kristingvenbruusgaar | /ifs/en/Research/Norwegian-and-European-security/Russia/kristing-ven-bruusgaard-russia-nuclear-strategy | | Russian Nuclear Strategy – created in a vacuum? Civilian control over Russian nuclear weapons strategy 1993–2010 | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=683 |
| ifsen_240_civmil | ifsen_396_havardbakkenrussiami | /ifs/en/Research/Norwegian-and-European-security/Russia/havard-bakken-russia-militarist-identity | | The Russian Patriot Recast: Militarist Identity Formation in Russian State Policy under Putin | | | ifsen_240_civmil | | http://forsvaret.no/ifs/en/Lists/RelatedPages/DispForm.aspx?ID=685 |