Personal profile
CV
Internationally he is mostly known for coining within security theory the concept of 'securitization' and as one of the main figures in developing what is often referred to as the 'Copenhagen School' in security studies. His most recent writings in relation to securitization theory have applied the theory to religion and to climate change. The second most influential sub-set of his work is probably writings on the sociology of the discipline of International Relations. His research interests include international relations and security theory, sociology of science, religion in international relations, climate change, conflict analysis, and the role of national identity in foreign policy. Current research projects are updating the foundations in philosophy of language for securitization theory - and take research towards a new focus on technology.
He has published in International Organization, Journal of Peace Research, International Affairs, Cooperation and Conflict, Journal of International Affairs, Journal of Common Market Studies, Review of International Studies, Millennium, International Relations and Security Dialogue. Among his main books are Introduktion til Studiet af International Politik (1992), Security: A New Framework for Analysis (with Barry Buzan and Jaap de Wilde 1998, Chinese 2002, Czech 2006); Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security (with Barry Buzan, 2003; Chinese translation 2009; Persian translation 2009) and International Relations Scholarship Around the World (ed with Arlene B. Tickner, 2009). He is member of the team of authors for Katherine Richardson et al, Climate change: Global Risks, Challenges & Decisions, Cambridge University Press 2011.
Ole Wæver was elected to the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters in 2007; and he was the 2012 humanities/social science recipient of the research prize of the Carlsberg foundation. He became Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 2014, was the first recipient of the Hesbjerg Foundation Peace Prize in 2015; and received an honorary doctorate from University of Turku in 2015.
Short presentation
Office hours: Tuesdays 12:30-14:00, building/office No. 8.0.19
Primary fields of research
International Relations
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Theories of International Relations
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History of the Discipline
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Sociology of Science inspired analysis of the discipline
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The Possibilities for Non-Western Theories
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IR in Scandinavia – results from the TRIP survey
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Theories about theories: philosophy of science and tools for understanding international relations
Security Studies
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Continued development of the so-called Copenhagen School / theory of securitization
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The history and sociology of security studies
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Empirical analysis of the global patterns of regional security (the theory of 'regional security complexes')
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Religion, secularism and security
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Climate change as security issue
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Interdisciplinary comparison of methods for the characterisation of danger, risk, threat, catastrophe and insecurity
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Ontological security – and other new attempts to connect emotions and politics in security studies
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Identity/Security in the Post-Western World Order
Conceptual History for International Relations
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History of the concept of security
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Theory and methodology for the study of concepts in International Relations
Conflict Theory
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Classics from sociology and the need today for understanding conflict as conflict
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De-securitization and ontological security as tools for conflict resolution
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Sociology of Knowledge: Conflict Expertise as a Field
Sociology of Social Sciences
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Revising theories from sociology of science and STS for the study of social sciences
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Comparative analysis of Social Sciences
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The International Relations discipline
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Security Studies between University Disciplines and Policy Research
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Conflict Expertise as a heterogeneous field
- Institutions Internationally for Aggregation, Negotiation and Communication of Scientefic Advice: Climate Change, Planetary Boundaries and Emerging Scientific Breakthroughs
Speech Act Theory
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Politics in different speech act theories
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Deepening Securitization Theory with Austin and Sbisa
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Social Ontologies of Security
Scientific Revolutions and Political Re-orientation - Niels Bohr, an Open World and 21st Century Challenges
Continued Interests without short-term publication plans
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The mutually constitutive relationship between European integration, identity and security
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Nation and State concepts as key to foreign policies - discourse analysis as theory for this; empirically applied to Germany
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The status and prospects for international law and different forms of world order
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Missile defense, weaponization of space and deterrence theory
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Danish security and defense policy
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Identity, cooperation and transregionalism in the Nordic and Baltic areas
- The English School as IR Research Programme
Teaching
I teach and supervise primarily within the same domains that I research.
Education/Academic qualification
Political Science, PhD, Concepts of Security, University of Copenhagen
Award Date: 2 Oct 1997
Political Science, MA, University of Copenhagen
1 Sept 1985 → 1 Aug 1980
Award Date: 1 Aug 1985
Keywords
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Security politics
- concept of security
- securitization
- Philosophy of Technology
- STS - (Science, Technology & Society)
- Climate Change
- Religion and Politics
- Sociology of Science
- Risk analysis
- Philosophy of Science
- History of Science
- Speech Act Theory
- Philosophy of Language
- Regional Security
- Conflict escalation, conflict resolution, violence, nonviolence, peace, new media, digital method, emotions, micro-sociology, Big Data
- Peace & Conflict
- International Relations
- international relations theory
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Arctic Security: Regional disctinciveness and global connections
Jacobsen, M., Wæver, O., Gad, U. P., Jacobsen, M. (Editor) & Rowe, E. W. (Editor), 20 Feb 2026, A Research Agenda for Arctic Security and Governance. Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 119-133Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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Conflictualization as Negative Order: Patterning Global Politics in the 2020’s
Wæver, O., Hellmann, G. (Editor) & Jacobi, D. (Editor), 2026, (Accepted/In press) Rethinking World Order: Political Ordering as Global Ecology. Hellmann, G. & Jacobi, D. (eds.). Bristol: University of Bristol PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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How the Taliban Regained Power in Afghanistan
Sheikh, M. K., Mathiasen, J. W., Andersen, L. E., Krause, D. & Wæver, O., 2 Mar 2026, Routledge.Research output: Book/Report › Report › Research › peer-review
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Hvordan kan vi integrere fredens politik i den danske udenrigspolitik?
Bramsen, I. & Wæver, O., 26 Feb 2026, (Submitted) In: Økonomi & Politik.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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Hvornår er Rusland farligst? Nærlæsning af Forsvarets Efterretningstjenestes trusselsvurderinger og regeringens anvendelse af dem
Wæver, O., Dahlerup, D. (Editor), Olesen, H. S. (Editor) & Boje, T. (Editor), 10 Feb 2026, (Submitted) Kampen om sjælene.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Communication
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The Role and Structure of Theory in Big Picture Historical Theorizing
Wæver, O., 2026, The Big Picture as an Approach to the Study of International Relations: Thinking with and beyond Barry Buzan. Floyd, R. & Schouenborg, L. (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 25-43Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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A Parochial Internationalization: Surveying the Power and Evolution of Nordic International Relations Scholarship
Kristensen, P. M. & Wæver, O., 2025, In: Cooperation and Conflict. 60, 4, p. 558-591Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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Conflictualization: Theorizing how relations, societies, and issues come to be formed by the logic of conflict
Bramsen, I. & Wæver, O., 2025, In: Cooperation and Conflict. 60, 4, p. 978-1004Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
- 1 Lecture and oral contribution
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konference: Sikkerhed i en ny verdens uorden
Wæver, O. (Lecturer)
23 Jan 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution
Press/Media
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FN's krav om våbenhvile forpligter: 'Vestens autoritet er på spil'
27/03/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Ekspert: FN-resolution »gør vejen meget, meget kortere til at få stoppet« krigen i Gaza
26/03/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Ekspert: FN-resolution »gør vejen meget, meget kortere til at få stoppet« krigen i Gaza
25/03/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Kold krig og varmt klima stopper Grønlands flirt med Kina og Rusland
25/03/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media