Kristian Berg Harpviken is a Norwegian sociologist and researcher, and since 2009 director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Harpviken is foremost known for his competence on Afghanistan, where he has travelled extensively and conducted multiple field works since he first engaged with the country in 1989.
Harpviken has both practical and academic education. He is a trained horticulturalist and has worked as a farmer for several years. He has his cand.mag., 4 years undergraduate degree and cand.polit., 2 years post-graduate degree from University of Oslo, both in Sociology. He has been a guest researcher at the University of Chicago and Georgetown University. His cand. polit. thesis was entitled Political Mobilization Among the Hazara of Afghanistan, 1978–1992. In 2006 he defended his doctoral dissertation in sociology, entitled Networks in Transition: Wartime Migration in Afghanistan. Besides the main concentration on sociology, he has studied business and development studies. Between studies, Harpviken has served as agricultural coordinator and director for the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee in Peshawar, Pakistan. He also served 4 months conscientious objector duty for the same organization in 1989. Harpviken fulfilled 12 months compulsory military service in 1981, and trained as a conscript sergeant with specialization in mortars. Since 1993, Harpviken has been affiliated with PRIO, first as a student associate, from 1995 as researcher, then moving on to positions as senior researcher, deputy director, and now director. He has participated and led multiple long-term projects on anti-personnel landmines, internally displaced and refugees, peacebuilding, as well as regional security. In 2004–05 he was the programme leader of PRIO's research programme Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding. Additionally, he has provided consultancy services to several international NGOs and multilateral organizations.
Research interests
Harpviken's specialties and research interests include the dynamics of civil war, migration and transnational communities, and methodology in difficult contexts. Geographically, his research is primarily focused on Afghanistan and the region, but he also has fieldwork experience from Angola, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Mozambique, Pakistan; in large part related to the landmine situation and the landmine campaign. He has taught several courses on methodology in crisis situations both for practitioners and graduate university students.
Dissemination and outreach
Harpviken frequently comments in national media on the situation in Afghanistan, and he is also concerned with Norway's peace policy and other aspects of foreign policy. As director of PRIO, he and commented each year on the Nobel Peace Prize in media outlets from all over the world. In 2009, he was awarded the Norwegian Sociological Association's Dissemination Award.
