On 16–17 March, SIPRI, the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) hosted the third of three in-person dialogues in the Nordic Dialogues on Human Security series, this time in Oslo. With earlier events in Stockholm and Helsinki, the Nordic Dialogue series has sought to bring attention to how human-centred approaches can complement and strengthen traditional security frameworks.
Increased numbers of conflicts, hybrid threats and a shifting geopolitical order have prompted a reassessment of Norway’s foreign and security policies and priorities. In this context, a variety of events in Oslo brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society and military actors to examine the role of human security in Norwegian domestic and foreign policy in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
Titled ‘A Norwegian Reflection on Human Security in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape’, the main dialogue event discussed human-centred and comprehensive approaches to strengthen domestic civil preparedness, societal resilience and Norway’s Total Defence concept. The exchange highlighted potential blind spots in current priorities, including weakening trust and social cohesion, emerging biosecurity risks and the security implications of artificial intelligence. The participants also stressed the opportunities to integrate human-centred perspectives into Norway’s evolving security debates.
An expert roundtable focused on how to balance military and human security imperatives in domestic and foreign efforts. The conversation was informed by lessons from the Russia–Ukraine war.
As part of the project, SIPRI will launch a virtual community of practice on human-centred approaches to security. Please register your interest here.