Anne Pintsch

• Pintsch, Anne (2025). Conclusions. Experimentation and Differentiation in the Nordic Region. In Pintsch, Anne; Harbo, Tor-Inge & Oxelheim, Lars (Ed.), Differentiated Integration in a Nordic Perspective. Routledge. ISSN 9781032691015. p. 225–234. doi: https:/www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781032699219-15/conclusions-anne-pintsch?context=ubx&refId=21cf8145-cd3a-4fdd-8f99-12511ba55ae2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The concluding chapter presents the main lessons learned from the contributions in this volume. In doing so, it employs an experimentalist perspective. In particular it revisits the contributions through the lenses of generative and Darwinian experimentalism. The chapter shows that the Nordic region with its long and diverse experience of differentiation serves as a laboratory that can offer lessons for future formats of differentiation. However, there are also limits to such experimentation through differentiation. Thus, the chapter also problematises the notion of the Nordics as a laboratory by pointing to cases where the Nordic countries have not taken a lead or where the EU discarded differentiation as an option. The results encourage further research that connects the different strands of the literature on differentiation and experimentation.

• Wadensjö, Eskil & Pintsch, Anne (2025). Nordic Pension Systems in a European Differentiated Integration Perspective. In Pintsch, Anne; Harbo, Tor-Inge & Oxelheim, Lars (Ed.), Differentiated Integration in a Nordic Perspective. Routledge. ISSN 9781032691015. p. 41–57. doi: https:/www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781032699219-4/nordic-pension-systems-european-differentiated-integration-perspective-eskil-wadensj%C3%B6-anne-pintsch?context=ubx&refId=da6c7196-ba1f-4de4-b9ca-f4b5a421b86e. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Pension systems remain a national competence in the EU member states and are undergoing reforms in all European countries. There are some tendencies to integration of the systems, but large differences remain. This chapter assesses the chances for differentiated integration with regard to pension policy and whether the Nordic welfare states will lead the way for the rest of Europe. In doing so, it analyses problems related to aging and the pension systems in Europe and the differences between the solutions in the European countries. It shows that even in the Nordics pension systems are very different and reforms are marked by path dependence. This continues to represent an obstacle to labour mobility in the region. The chapter concludes that there are only few signs of integration of the pensions systems in the EU and in the Nordic countries. Thus, the Nordics cannot serve as a model case of differentiated integration in the fields of pensions.

• Pintsch, Anne (2025). Laboratories of Differentiation and the Nordic Region. In Pintsch, Anne; Harbo, Tor-Inge & Oxelheim, Lars (Ed.), Differentiated Integration in a Nordic Perspective. Routledge. ISSN 9781032691015. p. 1–20. doi: https:/www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781032699219-1/laboratories-differentiation-nordic-region-anne-pintsch?context=ubx&refId=d584af08-36b2-44c8-8a39-779c015be7e8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Differentiation has become an enduring feature of European integration. Given the new geopolitical challenges in Europe and the return of enlargement policy to the top of the European Union’s agenda, its importance will most likely continue to grow. This introductory chapter argues that the lessons learned from the Nordic region and experience can be of particular relevance for discussions on the future of differentiation on the European continent. It starts with a review of conceptual approaches that provide points of departure in the thinking about laboratories of differentiation. This overview is substantiated by examples of differentiation that have been perceived as such laboratories. The chapter then introduces the Nordic laboratory of differentiation. It suggests building a stronger connection between the literatures on differentiation and policy learning. In the last part, an overview of the contributions to the edited volume is provided.

• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2025). Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the EU—From “Integration without Membership” to “Integration through War”. In Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (Ed.), Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the EU. From “Integration without Membership” to “Integration through War”. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783031691539. p. 3–18. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-69154-6_1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This chapter serves as an introduction to the edited volume with the same name. First, it discusses the background and rationale for exploring Ukraine’s thorny path towards EU membership amidst Russia’s war against Ukraine and presents the features of the edited volume. Next, it explains the volume’s structure and numerous themes it engages with, such as the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and its role in the accession context, Ukrainian refugees and free movement of Ukrainians in the EU, democracy and human rights in Ukraine under the marital law, trade and copyright issues, environmental protection and education. EU accession and reconstruction serve as cross-cutting topics all the contributions zoom in on. A summary and policy recommendations for EU institutions and the Government of Ukraine are formulated in the volume’s “Conclusions” chapter.

• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2025). From “Integration without Membership” to “Integration through War”—Or Why Sailing the Thorny Path Will Ultimately Lead to the EU. In Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (Ed.), Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the EU. From “Integration without Membership” to “Integration through War”. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783031691539. p. 311–323. doi: https:/link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-69154-6_13. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This concluding chapter summarises the main findings of the edited volume. It focuses in particular on three questions: Where does Ukraine stand today on the path to membership of the European Union? (How) can Ukraine make progress on this path through reforms in times of war? And what role does the Association Agreement play in the accession context? It concludes that Ukraine has never been as integrated into the EU as it is today. Its integration has even accelerated with the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion. This is due not least to the rapid pace of reforms, which are based on the obligations of the Association Agreement and strategic considerations.

• Aleksyeyeva, Yelyzaveta & Pintsch, Anne (2025). Ukraine’s Compliance with Norms of Environmental Democracy: Between Wartime Restrictions, EU Standards and Green Reconstruction. In Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (Ed.), Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the EU. From “Integration without Membership” to “Integration through War”. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783031691539. p. 223–246. doi: https:/link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-69154-6_10.pdf?pdf=inline%20link. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Environmental democracy has been a field cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine for many years. Ukraine has made strong progress in implementing respective international and EU law. However, as a response to Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Government of Ukraine initially restricted these democratic rights. The chapter presents these restrictions to access to environmental information and public participation in environmental impact assessment (EIA). It analyses how the adopted measures violated the Constitution of Ukraine, domestic laws and the EU acquis and shows that they were not proportionate in light of their legitimate objectives. The Government of Ukraine’s failure to strike a fair balance between security and defence interests and competing interests of transparency, democratic decision-making and green reconstruction led to massive domestic and international pressure to revise the measures. Not least in view of Ukraine’s EU candidate country status, a better balance was found by the amendments to the EIA Law effective since December 2023. The chapter innovatively unites two previously separate strands of literature on restrictions of democratic rights during wartime or for the sake of security and environmental democracy and embeds them into the literature on EU enlargement.

• Fyshchuk, Iryna & Pintsch, Anne (2025). Cyber-Attacks in Ukraine: Coping With the Challenges at the Local Level in 2022–2024. Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy (RHCPP). 16(3). doi: 10.1002/rhc3.70025. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2024). From the 2014 Annexation of Crimea to the 2022 Russian War on Ukraine: Path Dependence and Socialization in the EU–Ukraine Relations. Journal of Common Market Studies. ISSN 0021-9886. 62(5), p. 1239–1259. doi: 10.1111/jcms.13572. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2024). Political conditionality as an EU foreign policy and crisis management tool. The case of EU wartime political conditionality vis-à-vis Ukraine. Journal of European Integration. ISSN 0703-6337. doi: 10.1080/07036337.2024.2407091. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This article explores the compatibility between the EU’s political conditionality as a policy tool and the EU’s approach to conflict management, guided by the EU Global Strategy. It does so based on the unique case of the EU’s application of political conditionality vis-à-vis Ukraine amidst the war and the reinvigoration of the EU’s enlargement policy in response thereto. We find conditionality to fit the EU’s crisis management toolbox, especially when it comes to the long-term approach and building resilience of state institutions in a target country. Though not yet strongly visible in the case of Ukraine, the application of conditionality may come into contradiction with the principles of societal resilience and local ownership, embedded into the EU’s approach to conflict management and the EU Global Strategy, more broadly.

• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2023). The Eastern Partnership Initiative: Challenges of Assessing Performance and New Geopolitical Realities. International Politics. ISSN 1384-5748. 61(6), p. 1199–1215. doi: 10.1057/s41311-023-00520-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The article discusses the theoretical and empirical challenges of assessing performance of the EU’s Eastern Partnership policy with a special focus on the future of the policy amidst Russia’s war against Ukraine. Based on the contributions to the respective Special Issue the concluding article discusses contemporary developments at the crossroads between EU Studies and the studies of performance, the multi- and interdisciplinary approaches to performance assessment in European Studies, as well as state-of-the-art of the EU’s performance in six Eastern Partnership countries. It also dedicates much attention to the implications the policy’s performance so far and available evidence about it will have for the reinvention of the Eastern Partnership in the new geopolitical constellations, shaped by Russia’s war against Ukraine and the EU’s response thereto.

• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2023). Sustainable Development: A Common Denominator for the EU’s Policy Towards the Eastern Partnership? The International Spectator: Italian Journal of International Affairs. ISSN 0393-2729. 58(1), p. 38–57. doi: 10.1080/03932729.2023.2165774. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The heterogeneity of the Eastern Partnership countries’ cultures, political regimes and foreign policy aspirations has been a challenge to the EU’s formulation of a coherent umbrella policy towards the region since the 2004 enlargement. Document analysis with a focus on region-level documents and the cases of Ukraine and Azerbaijan demonstrates the EU’s tendency to shift from an emphasis on European integration and common values to the sustainable development concept in order to address this challenge. By also taking into account the context of this tendency, this analysis highlights the need to balance sustainable development, integration efforts and democratisation in the Eastern Partnership amidst increasing differentiation between target countries and geopolitical pressures.

• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2023). Compliance Negotiations in EU External Relations: The Case of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Journal of European Integration. ISSN 0703-6337. doi: 10.1080/07036337.2023.2272732. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The article advances the research on compliance negotiations in the context of the EU’s external relations. It develops further the framework on EU compliance negotiations, introduced by Jönsson and Tallberg in 1998, and provides empirical evidence from a case study on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement’s implementation. The article suggests three arguments for the expansion of the original framework. Firstly, we add to the framework the case of pre-emptive compliance negotiations, i.e. negotiations in view of anticipated non-compliance. Secondly, it is suggested to supplement the original framework with the ‘object of negotiations’ category, as the issue at stake influences other variables in compliance negotiations, such as the power relations between the parties and the conflictive vs. cooperative nature of the negotiations. Thirdly, the article unpacks the role of multistakeholder networks in the dynamics of compliance negotiations in the EU’s external relations.

• Pintsch, Anne; Hammerschmidt, Dennis & Meyer, Cosima (2022). Introduction: The Decline of Democracy and Rise of Populism in Europe and their Effect on Democracy Promotion. Cambridge Review of International Affairs. ISSN 0955-7571. 35(4), p. 405–423. doi: 10.1080/09557571.2022.2082797. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  International democracy promotion has been facing various challenges for awhile. Among those are the decline of democracy and the rise of populism in donorcountries. To date, however, there is little knowledge about their impact on democracypromotion. This article introduces a Special Issue that explores these challenges. After ageneral overview of the topic and consideration of the thematic focus of mostcontributions to the Special Issue, the introductory article elaborates in more detail onthe relationship between populism and democracy promotion. Based on reviews of thedebates about populism and democracy on the one hand and populism and foreignpolicy on the other hand, the article outlines three pathways through which populistsmay influence democracy promotion: (1) individual states, (2) internationalorganizations and (3) civil society. In addition, the article summarizes the mainfindings of the contributions to the Special Issue and draws some general conclusionsand perspectives for further research.

• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2022). EU External Differentiated Integration and Compliance: Theoretical and Legal Aspects. In Leruth, Benjamin; Gänzle, Stefan & Trondal, Jarle (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Differentiation in the European Union. Routledge. ISSN 9780367149659. p. 99–115. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2021). EU Differentiated Integration as a Tangible. Internal and External Dimensions. In Hoerber, Thomas; Weber, Gabriel & Cabras, Ignazio (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of European Integrations. Routledge. ISSN 9780367203078. p. 376–393. Full text in Research Archive
• Hammerschmidt, Dennis; Meyer, Cosima & Pintsch, Anne (2021). Foreign Aid in Times of Populism: The Influence of Populist Radical Right Parties on the Official Development Assistance of OECD Countries. Cambridge Review of International Affairs. ISSN 0955-7571. 35(4), p. 478–499. doi: 10.1080/09557571.2021.1980498. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Populist parties in governments are on the rise in many European countries that are also major donors of foreign aid. While the general political development of populism has attracted much scientific and media attention, there is little knowledge about how populist parties influence foreign aid spending. Since radical right-wing populism tends to over-prioritize domestic politics, populist radical right-wing governments are likely to reduce foreign aid spending. We argue that the larger the share of populist radical right parties in a government is, the less foreign aid is spent. We account for divisions of power by distinguishing between populist radical right parties in the legislative and executive branches of government. Analysing 25 OECD countries between 1990 − 2016 using generalized additive models, we find empirical support for our hypotheses. Our findings on foreign aid have implications for understanding the impact of populist radical right-wing parties on foreign policy making more broadly.

• Pintsch, Anne (2020). Decentralization in Ukraine and Bottom-up European Integration. In Shelest, Hanna & Rabinovych, Maryna (Ed.), Decentralization, Regional Diversity, and Conflict: The Case of Ukraine. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783030417642. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-41765-9_12. Full text in Research Archive

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• Pintsch, Anne; Harbo, Tor-Inge & Oxelheim, Lars (2025). Differentiated Integration in a Nordic Perspective. Routledge. ISBN 9781032691015. doi: 10.4324/9781032699219. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2025). Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the EU. From “Integration without Membership” to “Integration through War”. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9783031691539. 327 p. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-69154-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This interdisciplinary book takes stock of Ukraine’s thorny European integration path in the last two decades. Engaging many Ukrainian academics and practitioners, the book seeks to offer a first-hand insight into how Ukraine moves towards EU membership, while in war with Russia, and which ‘stumbling blocks’ it encounters.

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• Aasland, Aadne & Pintsch, Anne (2026). From Fragmented Expertise to Academic Networks: Nordic-Baltic Responses to the Growing Demand for Ukraine Knowledge. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne; Rabinovych, Maryna; Pyrih, Marianna & Kazdobina, Yuliia (2024). Ukraine-Nordic Research Cooperation During the War: Perspectives from Universities and Think Tanks. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the challenge of Ukraine’s reconstruction create unprecedented knowledge needs. This largely relates to social science, as decision-makers in Ukraine and Western partner countries seek evidence for developing new policies and modifying existing ones. Natural sciences are also important, since both getting advantage over Russia on the battlefield and addressing the damage caused by its aggression to infrastructure and people requires new ideas and technological solutions. International research cooperation facilitates knowledge exchange, and the co-creation of new knowledge and solutions to complex challenges. In times of war, it also helps to compensate for losses in human, technical and financial capacity. Yet, engaging into research cooperation with universities and think tanks from a country at war may seem to be risky from the perspective of potential partners and donors. The panel will thus focus on the value, prospects, and challenges of international research cooperation in Ukraine in times of war, particularly Ukraine-Nordic cooperation. Using examples of specific research projects, participants will address ‘best practices’ and risk mitigation strategies of international research cooperation during the war.

• Pintsch, Anne; Rabinovych, Maryna; Protsyk, Halyna & Haletska, Nataliya (2024). Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the European Union: Sectoral Insights and Future Prospects. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Ukraine has decidedly embarked on the path to EU membership. The process of Ukraine’s European integration is highly dynamic, but there are also many challenges. This policy dialogue between academics and practitioners sheds light on EU-Ukraine relations and current developments in key sectors, such as trade, intellectual property rights, education, as well as the movement of people and their (re)integration. It aims at taking stock, identifying obstacles and discussing potential solutions.

• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2024). Halyna Protsyk: “Internationalisation Makes Ukrainian Universities Stronger”. Democracy in Action. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne (2024). How Can Norway Support Resilient Governance in Ukraine? Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Nansen programme for Ukraine has been termed a game changer in Norwegian aid history. Much of this support aims to help Ukraine ‘build back better’: to protect social welfare, encourage economic renewal, and advance democratic standards. The success of these long-term ambitions will depend on Ukraine’s continued progress in establishing clean, decentralised and trusted systems of governance. This panel, organised by U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre based at CMI, will discuss the prospects for this. How is Ukraine likely to make further advances in anti-corruption and participatory governance? And how can Norway’s largest aid package to date support these?

• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2024). Political Conditionality as EU Foreign Policy and Crisis Management Tool. The Case of EU Wartime Political Conditionality vis-à-vis Ukraine. Full text in Research Archive
• Åtland, Kristian; Flikke, Geir; Gudmundsdotter, Anne Gry; Iermolenko, Olga; Nuridzhanian, Gaiane & Paulsen, Martin [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Norge må øke støtten til akademisk samarbeid med Ukraina. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne; Hernes, Vilde; Oleinikova, Olga; Rabinovych, Maryna & Šūpule, Inese (2024). Different Approaches – Similar Challenges: Migration and Integration Policies Towards Ukrainian Refugees in Australia and the Nordic-Baltic Region. Hromada Nordic-Baltic blog on Ukraine. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2024). Ukrainian-Nordic Research Co-operation: Utilising the Lessons of War for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Hromada Nordic-Baltic blog on Ukraine. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2023). Keynote speech "Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Geopolitical Europe and the New Global Order". Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2023). Geopolitical and Technocratic: EU International Actorness and Russia's War Against Ukraine. Schuman Papers (Foundation Robert Schuman). Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2023). Harnessing the Nordic-Baltic Cooperation Experience for Ukraine’s Post-War Recovery. In Flåøyen, Arne (Eds.), NordForsk Report Fast Track To Vision 2030. NordForsk. p. 127–131. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne (2023). Et år siden invasjonen i Ukraina. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2023). Europa må støtte en rask seier for Ukraina. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2023). Compliance Negotiations in EU External Differentiated Integration: The Case of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne (2022). War in Ukraine – Historical Origins and Current Developments. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2022). From the 2014 Annexation of Crimea to the 2022 Russia-Ukraine War: Association, Resilience and Socialization in the EU-Ukraine Relations between the Critical Junctures. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne (2022). Comment on the Speech "Norsk utenrikspolitikk i en ny tid" of the Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne (2022). Power, Resistance, and Development in the context of the geopolitical dynamics between Russia, Ukraine, NATO, and the EU​. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne (2022). European Refugee Policy and Practice, with a Particular Focus on the War in Ukraine. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2022). Compliance Negotiations and the EU Association Relations with Third Countries. The Case of Ukraine. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2022). From the 2014 Annexation of Crimea to the 2022 Russian war on Ukraine: Path-Dependence and Socialization in the EU-Ukraine Relations between the Critical Junctures. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2022). EU, Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership in War and Post-War Times: Quo Vadis? Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2022). Sustainable Development: A Common Denominator for the EU’s Policy towards the Eastern Partnership? Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2022). Revisiting Compliance Negotiations: The EU Association Relations with Ukraine. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2022). EU External Differentiated Integration and Compliance: Theoretical and Legal Aspects. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne; Trondal, Jarle; Andersen, Johan Erik; Avramovic, Aleksandar & Bugyi, László (2021). Demokratisk Tilbakegang Fortsetter i Europa. p. 23–23. Full text in Research Archive
• Rabinovych, Maryna & Pintsch, Anne (2020). Синонім Євроінтеграції: Як Децентралізація Наблизить Україну До ЄC. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2020). Децентралізація Та Міжнародне Співробітництво ОТГ: Виклики Та Шляхи Покращення. VoxUkraine. Full text in Research Archive
• Pintsch, Anne & Rabinovych, Maryna (2020). The Amalgamated Communities’ International Cooperation: Challenges and Pathways to Improvement. VoxUkraine. Full text in Research Archive

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