Henrik Syse (born 19 April 1966) is a Norwegian philosopher, author, and lecturer. He is a Research Professor at the
Peace Research Institute Oslo
The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO; no, Institutt for fredsforskning) is a private research institution in peace and conflict studies, based in Oslo, Norway, with around 100 employees. It was founded in 1959 by a group of Norwegian researcher ...
(PRIO), and a part-time Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Bjørknes College in Oslo. He was a member of the
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee ( no, Den norske Nobelkomité) selects the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize each year on behalf of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel's estate, based on instructions of Nobel's will.
Five members are appointed by ...
, which awards the
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiolo ...
BI Norwegian Business School
BI Norwegian Business School () is the largest business school in Norway and the second largest in all of Europe. BI has in total four campuses with the main one located in Oslo. The university has 845 employees consisting of an academic staff o ...
,
MF Norwegian School of Theology
MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society ( no, MF vitenskapelig høyskole for teologi, religion og samfunn), formerly the Free Faculty of Theology ( no, Det teologiske menighetsfakultet) and MF Norwegian School of Theology, is an accr ...
, the
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...
, and other institutions of higher learning, and he is Chief Editor (with Martin L. Cook) of the '' Journal of Military Ethics'', a peer-reviewed journal published by
Taylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis Group is an international company originating in England that publishes books and academic journals. Its parts include Taylor & Francis, Routledge, F1000 Research or Dovepress. It is a division of Informa plc, a United Ki ...
.
Henrik Syse was Head of
Corporate Governance
Corporate governance is defined, described or delineated in diverse ways, depending on the writer's purpose. Writers focused on a disciplinary interest or context (such as accounting, finance, law, or management) often adopt narrow definitions ...
Government Pension Fund of Norway
The Government Pension Fund of Norway ( no, Statens pensjonsfond) comprises two entirely separate sovereign wealth funds owned by the government of Norway.
The Government Pension Fund Global, also known as the Oil Fund, was established in 1990 t ...
Global, from 2005 to 2007, and he continued, until 2009, as an advisor and consultant on social issues for NBIM.
He has published in the fields of philosophy, politics, religion, and ethics, including
business ethics
Business ethics (also known as Corporate Ethics) is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics, that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business c ...
and professional ethics. He was nominated as a
Young Global Leader
Forum of Young Global Leaders, or Young Global Leaders (YGL), was created by Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum. The YGL, a non-profit organization managed from Geneva, Switzerland, is under the supervision of the Swiss government ...
by the
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. The foundation, ...
in Davos in 2007. He is a much-used lecturer in Norway and abroad.
At PRIO, Henrik Syse specializes in the ethics and laws of armed conflict, as well as other issues within international ethics, and he also works on questions related to free speech, identity, values, and the aftermath of the 22 July
2011 Norway attacks
The 2011 Norway attacks, referred to in Norway as 22 July ( no, 22. juli) or as 22/7, were two domestic terrorist attacks by neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik against the government, the civilian population, and a Workers' Youth League (AUF) ...
.
Among his publications in English are ''The Ethics of War: Classic and Contemporary Readings'' (edited with Gregory Reichberg and Endre Begby, Blackwell, 2006), ''Natural Law, Religion, and Rights'' (St. Augustine's Press, 2007), and ''Religion, War, and Ethics: A Sourcebook of Textual Traditions'' (edited with Gregory Reichberg and Nicole Hartwell, Cambridge University Press, 2014). He has published academic articles in journals such as ''
Security Dialogue
''Security Dialogue'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes scholarly articles which combine contemporary theoretical analysis with challenges to public policy across a wide-ranging field of security studies. The journal is owned by th ...
'', ''
Journal of Peace Research
The ''Journal of Peace Research'' is a bimonthly peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes scholarly articles and book reviews in the fields of peace and conflict studies, conflict resolution, and international security. It was established by J ...
'', ''
Augustinian Studies
''Augustinian Studies'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal devoted to the study of Augustine of Hippo. Its primary focus is the study of Augustine himself, as viewed from various theological, philosophical, and historical perspectives. Articles co ...
'', ''
Modern Age
The term modern period or modern era (sometimes also called modern history or modern times) is the period of history that succeeds the Middle Ages (which ended approximately 1500 AD). This terminology is a historical periodization that is appli ...
Corporate Governance
Corporate governance is defined, described or delineated in diverse ways, depending on the writer's purpose. Writers focused on a disciplinary interest or context (such as accounting, finance, law, or management) often adopt narrow definitions ...
'', and '' Journal of Military Ethics''. He has published several books in Norwegian on issues such as faith and reason, free speech, and applied ethics.
Syse holds a Cand.Mag. (Bachelor of Arts) degree from the
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...
(1989), a Master of Arts degree from
Boston College
Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classified ...
, USA (1991), and a Dr. Art. (Ph.D.) degree from the University of Oslo (1997). While at Boston College, he held a
Fulbright
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...
Scholarship.
Syse is the son of former Norwegian Prime Minister and Member of Parliament
Jan P. Syse
(25 November 1930 – 17 September 1997) was a Norwegian lawyer and politician from the Conservative Party. He was the 31st Prime Minister of Norway from 1989 to 1990. He also served as the minister of Industry from 1983 to 1985. Syse was the p ...
(1930–1997). He is an active Sunday School teacher in his local church at Fagerborg in Oslo, and is also a regular guest in Norwegian National Broadcasting (NRK), not only speaking about politics and philosophy, but also as a featured guest discussing
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
on the popular radio show ''Herreavdelingens platesjappe''. He is married to Senior Advisor Hanna Helene Syse (b. 1965), and they have four children.