Stina Torjesen

Associate Professor Department of Management and Innovation

Email: stina.torjesen@uia.no
Phone: +47 38 14 14 94
Mobile phone: +47 40 82 74 06
Office: 9I158 (Universitetsveien 19, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway)

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Areas of responsibility

Stina Torjesen holds a BA in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MPhil and DPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford. She served previously as a Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and worked for the United Nations in Kazakhstan. She has also worked as a project manager in the sustainability consultancy SIGLA.

Stina Torjesen has co-edited books published by, among others, Routledge and Springer. The article ‘Towards a theory of ex-combatant reintegration’ in the journal Stability: International journal of security and development has around 1000 downloads. Other articles have featured in journals such as Conflict, Security and Development (Taylor & Francis), Central Asia Survey (Taylor & Francis) and and Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (Taylor & Francis). Stina Torjesen also has an entry on the usefulness of mobile phones in post-conflict reconstruction phases at the Stanford Social Innovations Reveiw Blog and she is the author of numerous policy reports. Along with a number of UiA colleagues, Stina Torjesen has contributed to a major research project on batteries (Lithium ion BATteries - Norwegian opportunities within sustainable end-of-life MANagement, reuse and new material streams, BATMAN), which ran from 2019 to 2022 and she is currently focusing on regional and global battery policy developments in her research.

Stina Torjesen successfully coordinated the UiA School of Business and Law’s accreditation process with the AACSB International (awarded March 2019). She served as Senior Editor at the International Journal of Emerging Markets (Emerald) from 2014 to 2017, and she has previously served as a board member at Polyteknisk Forening (group on international politics and economics) and with the Oslo Labour Party Internasjonalt Forum. She has served as member of the Labour Party's Internasjonalt Utvalg at the national level since 2017 and in the period 2020-2022 she was part of the the main program committee for the major Norwegian political fair Arendalsuka.

Stina Torjesen is on partial leave from UiA and currently holds the position of Sustainability Director in the major Norwegian Battery initiative Morrow Batteries.

Teaching

Teaching includes:

Sustainable Capitalism
International Political Economy
International Politics

Research

Academic interests

Stina Torjesen conducts research on the themes: economic and political developments in post-conflict societies (Tajikistan and Afghanistan as main cases); the regional affairs of Central and South Asia; and the turn towards sustainability and circular economy principles in the industries of southern Norway.

Research groups

RIST – Research on Industrial and Societal Transitions

Losa, Riccardo & Torjesen, Stina (2026). Advancing the Study of Circular Entrepreneurship: Insights and Concepts From the European Battery Industry. Business Strategy and the Environment (BSE). ISSN 0964-4733. doi: 10.1002/bse.71041. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This paper discusses circular entrepreneurship in the context of the European battery sector and identifies three overarching themes that have emerged as particularly salient, namely, access to resources, conflict of interest, and the need for further refinement of terminology. As the nascent field of circular entrepreneurship studies evolves and expands, there is now a need to prioritize themes that may be particularly pressing and in need of further analysis. The paper suggests that more scholarly focus should be devoted to the themes access to resources and conflict of interest, and it develops analytical concepts as well as refines definitions. The paper also highlights relevant theoretical insights from adjacent fields, such as supply chain management and effectuation theory in entrepreneurship studies. A research agenda and a corresponding theoretical proposition are also put forward. The point of departure for the assessment is circular entrepreneurship in the European battery industry, but the insights presented hold relevance for circular entrepreneurship studies more broadly and across industry sectors.
Losa, Riccardo & Torjesen, Stina (2025). The quest for more circular battery value chains: Implementing the EU digital battery passport and remaining challenges. Cleaner Production Letters (CLPL). 9. doi: 10.1016/j.clpl.2025.100118. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Digital technologies have been increasingly adopted to facilitate the adoption of circular economy. A prominent example is the Digital Product Passport (DPP), designed to enhance product sustainability by collecting and disclosing comprehensive lifecycle information. International efforts toward the DPP include systems in the US, EU and China which leverage digital technologies to enhance products traceability, circularity, and sustainability across various industries. A DPP for batteries (DBP - Digital Battery Passport) is currently being implemented under the EU Battery Regulation and is entering into force in the European market in February 2027. Past studies have examined DPPs’ data requirements, principles, and challenges, but few have assessed their effectiveness in fostering circularity, and none have evaluated their role in the development of a circular battery sector in Europe. This study explored whether DBP’s potential circularity benefits are valid or compromised by implementation challenges and practical limitations. 35 industry stakeholders were interviewed, and literature and policy documents reviewed. The findings indicated that the DBP supports the emergence of circular battery value chains and facilitates both re-use and recycling. However, while data for recycling is easier to provide, the information needed for re-use is seen by stakeholders as posing availability and intellectual property challenges. This ties in with additional biases in the EU Battery Regulation that potentially favor recycling (i.e., targets for recycled content and recovered materials). Facilitating recycling over re-use is sub-optimal from an environmental perspective, and the article suggested a set of solutions to the DBP’s challenges, including for the recycling bias.
Torjesen, Stina (2024). A battery bonanza for the global South? Prospects for economic upgrading in lithium-ion battery value chains in the context of strategic capitalism. The Extractive Industries and Society. ISSN 2214-790X. 17, p. 1–6. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2023.101375. Full text in Research Archive
Sharma, Pooja; Kolhe, Mohan Lal; Torjesen, Stina & Sharma, Arvind (2024). Analysing the Role of Energy Storage in Building Integrated Photovoltaic System: A Techno-Economic Analysis. In Kolhe, Mohan Lal & Liao, Qiangqiang (Ed.), Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Hydrogen Energy, Renewable Energy and Materials. Springer. ISSN 9789819736867. p. 67–81. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-3686-7_6. Full text in Research Archive
Sharma, Pooja; Kolhe, Mohan Lal; Torjesen, Stina & Sharma, Arvind (2022). Role of Subsidies for PV Solar Installations in India: A Cost–Benefit Analysis. In Kolhe, Mohan Lal; Jaju, S B & Daigavane, P M (Ed.), Smart Technologies for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Vol 1. Springer. ISSN 9789811668753. p. 369–380. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-6875-3_30. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The paper highlights the role of subsidies in the PV solar installments both from the lenders and from the receiver’s perspective, evaluating the existing financial incentives contributing to the adoption of PV solar technology. It evaluates the costs and benefits accumulated by the installation of grid-connected PV solar panel of size 2.5 and 10 kW using the method of cost–benefit analysis and net present value. The paper observes a significant role of subsidies in realizing the benefits in case of PV solar installations. The results of cost–benefit analysis reveal that the internal rate of return is greater in case of subsidy than without subsidy indicating the role of subsidies in incentivizing the investment in PV solar systems. An internal rate of return is 13% for smaller plant and 19.94% for larger plant with subsidy. However, the slow growth in investment observed in past years reflects the vulnerability of the PV solar system on the financial structure. The PV solar costs that are highly vulnerable to technological innovations, and the subsidies in such cases are bound to accumulate financial liabilities for government in terms of opportunity cost foregone by not investing in new technology. Moreover, the reduction in the costs of PV solar technology is contributing in shorten the gestation period and achieving break even hinders investors in making investment decisions. The present situation of PV solar development in India needs not only a periodic assessment process to tackle the issue of rapid innovation in technology but also relevant policies and procedures promoting buyback options to integrate upgradation of technology.
Birkeland, Terese; Gänzle, Stefan & Torjesen, Stina (2021). The Making of a European Union Strategy for Central Asia: Towards 'Normalization' in Foreign Policy? European Foreign Affairs Review. ISSN 1384-6299. 26(3), p. 377–396. doi: 10.54648/EERR2021033. Full text in Research Archive
Bragdø-Ellenes, Sunniva Cristina & Torjesen, Stina (2020). Diplomatisk hodebry: internasjonale reaksjoner på kontroversielle avgjørelser i norsk barnevern. Internasjonal Politikk. ISSN 0020-577X. 78(1), p. 1–31. doi: 10.23865/intpol.v78.1069. Full text in Research Archive
Shneor, Rotem & Torjesen, Stina (2020). Ethical Considerations in Crowdfunding. In Shneor, Rotem; Zhao, Liang & Flåten, Bjørn-Tore (Ed.), Advances in Crowdfunding: Research and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783030463090. p. 161–182. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-46309-0_8. Full text in Research Archive
Comes, Tina; Meesters, Kenny & Torjesen, Stina (2019). Making sense of crises: the implications of information asymmetries for resilience and social justice in disaster-ridden communities’. Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure. ISSN 2378-9689. 4(3), p. 124–136. doi: 10.1080/23789689.2017.1405653. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina; Basit, Saira & MacFarlane, Neil (2019). China to Afghanistan’s rescue with pressure on Afghanistan? South Asia @ LSE. Full text in Research Archive
Basit, Saira; Torjesen, Stina & MacFarlane, Neil (2018). China in Pakistan and the wider region: A cautiousbut effective leader? Contemporary South Asia. ISSN 0958-4935. 27(1), p. 1–26. doi: 10.1080/09584935.2018.1557109. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina & Landmark, Karen (2016). Commitment to sustainability in Agder. In Johnsen, Hans Christian Garman; Hauge, Elisabeth S.; Magnussen, May-Linda & Ennals, Richard (Ed.), Applied social science research in a regional knowledge system. Routledge. ISSN 9781472487827. p. 267–273. Full text in Research Archive
Johnsen, Hans Christian Garmann; Torjesen, Stina & Ennals, Richard (2015). The Challenge of Mutual Competence Building. In Johnsen, Hans Christian Garmann; Torjesen, Stina & Ennals, Richard (Ed.), Higher Education in a Sustainable Society. Springer. ISSN 9783319159188. p. 259–270. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-15919-5_16. Full text in Research Archive
Landmark, Karen; Rodvelt, Marianne & Torjesen, Stina (2015). Agder as Mutual Competence Builders: Developing Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage. In Johnsen, Hans Christian Garmann; Torjesen, Stina & Ennals, Richard (Ed.), Higher Education in a Sustainable Society. Springer. ISSN 9783319159188. p. 197–205. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-15919-5_12. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2013). Towards a theory of ex-combatant reintegration. Stability: International Journal of Security and Development. 2(3). doi: 10.5334/sta.cx. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This paper encourages the development of a theoretical framework for the study of the reintegration of ex-combatants after war. It takes the first steps towards this by proposing a new definition of reintegration, where the processes ex-combatants experience, rather than the programmatic support offered by international and national agencies, take centre stage. The article links the study of reintegration to two broader disciplines; political economy and sociology, and in particular to the two disciplines’ account of power and group belonging. It argues that a political economy approach is particularly useful for making sense of the context in which reintegration processes unfold. The article also suggests some relevant research questions and highlights methodological concerns related to research on reintegration.
Torjesen, Stina (2012). Transitions from war to peace: stratification, inequality and post-war economic reconstruction. In Berdal, Mats & Zaum, Dominik (Ed.), Political economy of statebuilding : power after peace. Routledge. ISSN 9780415604789. Full text in Research Archive
Øverland, Indra; Torjesen, Stina & Kjærnet, Heidi (2010). China ans Russia: partners or firewalls for the Caspian petro-states? In Øverland, Indra; Kjærnet, Heidi & Kendall-Taylor, Andrea (Ed.), Caspian Energy Politics. Routledge. ISSN 9780415549165. p. 93–100. Full text in Research Archive
Øverland, Indra & Torjesen, Stina (2010). Just good friends: Kazakhstan's and Turkmenistan's energy relation with Russia. In Øverland, Indra; Kjærnet, Heidi & Kendall-Taylor, Andrea (Ed.), Caspian Energy Politics. Routledge. ISSN 9780415549165. p. 136–149. Full text in Research Archive
Flikke, Geir & Torjesen, Stina (2009). EU og NATO: Utvidelse og naboskapspolitikk som sikkerhetspolitiske instrument. In Carlsnaes, Walter & Rieker, Pernille (Ed.), Nye utfordringer for europeisk sikkerhetspolitikk. Aktører, instrumenter og operasjoner. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215013848. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2009). Russia, the CIS and the EEC: Finally getting it right? In Rowe, Elana Tovah Wilson & Torjesen, Stina (Ed.), The Multilateral Dimension in Russian Foreign Policy. Routledge. ISSN 9780415471992. p. 153–162. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina & Macfarlane, Stephen Neil (2009). R before D: the case of post conflict reintegration in Tajikistan. In Berdal, Mats (Eds.), Reintegrating Armed Groups After Conflict. Routledge. ISSN 9780415476652. p. 47–66. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2009). Russia as a military great power: the uses of CSTO and SCO in Central Asia. In Rowe, Elana Tovah Wilson & Torjesen, Stina (Ed.), The Multilateral Dimension in Russian Foreign Policy. Routledge. ISSN 9780415471992. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2009). New avenues for research in the study of DDR. Conflict, Security and Development. ISSN 1467-8802. 9(4), p. 411–423. Full text in Research Archive
Kjærnet, Heidi; Torjesen, Stina & Satpaev, Dosym (2008). 'Big Business and High-level Politics in Kazakhstan: An Everlasting Symbiosis? China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly. ISSN 1653-4212. 6(1), p. 95–107. Full text in Research Archive
Muggah, Robert; Berdal, Mats & Torjesen, Stina (2008). Conclusion. In Muggah, Robert (Eds.), Security and Post-Conflict Reconstruction. Routledge. ISSN 9780415460545. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2008). Big Business and High-level Politics in Kazakhstan: An Everlasting Symbiosis? China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly. ISSN 1653-4212. 7(2), p. 95–107. Full text in Research Archive
Macfarlane, Stephen Neil & Torjesen, Stina (2005). Awash with weapons? The case of small arms in Kyrgyzstan. Central Asian Survey. ISSN 0263-4937. 24(1). Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina & Macfarlane, Stephen Neal (2005). R before D: the case of post-conflict reintegration in Tajikistan. Conflict, Security and Development. ISSN 1467-8802. 7(2). Full text in Research Archive
Bieler, Andreas & Torjesen, Stina (2001). Strenght through unity? A comparative analysis of splits in the Austrian, Swedish and Norwegian trade unions over EU membership. In Bieler, Andreas (Eds.), Social forces in the new Europe: the restructuring of European social relations in the global political economy. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9780333913215. Full text in Research Archive

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Gabrielli, Kim Noguera & Torjesen, Stina (2017). Sosialdemokratisk utenrikspolitikk i Trumps verden. Form Forlag AS. ISBN 9788269047011. 151 p. Full text in Research Archive
Johnsen, Hans Christian Garmann; Torjesen, Stina & Ennals, Richard (2015). Higher Education in a Sustainable Society. Springer. ISBN 9783319159188. 288 p. Full text in Research Archive
Anker, Morten; Baev, Pavel; Brunstad, Bjørn; Øverland, Indra & Torjesen, Stina (2010). The Caspian Sea Region towards 2025. Eburon Academic Publishers. ISBN 9789059723610. 153 p. Full text in Research Archive
Rowe, Elana Tovah Wilson & Torjesen, Stina (2009). The Multilateral Dimension in Russian Foreign Policy. Routledge. ISBN 9780415471992. 225 p. Full text in Research Archive

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Torjesen, Stina & Djørup, Søren (2022). En løsning på energikrisen? EUs foreslåtte grep og mulige konsekvenser for Agder. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina & Muggah, Robert (2019). Norge kan gjøre mye mer for Amazonas. Full text in Research Archive
Johnsen, Hans Christian Garmann & Torjesen, Stina (2015). Kompetanseutvikling og globale utfordringer. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2015). Europe – Eurasia: tougher cooperation climate in higher education? Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2015). Global Insecurity. Full text in Research Archive
Johnsen, Hans Christian Garman; Torjesen, Stina & Ennals, Richard (2015). Editors’ Preface and Acknowledgments. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. ISSN 2196-7075. p. VII–VII. Full text in Research Archive
Osland, Kari M. & Torjesen, Stina (2015). Afghanistan: hva kan vi lære? Internasjonal Politikk. ISSN 0020-577X. 73(1), p. 78–88. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina & Ylva, Lindberg (2013). Mobile phones build peace. Stanford Social Innovations Reveiw Blog. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2012). Sats på nye stormakter. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2012). Hvordan forandrer mobiltelefon og internet samfunnet vårt? Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2012). Fredsnasjonen og utenrikspolitikk, Dagsnytt 18. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2012). Forsiktig optimisme i Afghanistan. Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2012). Hva er galt med freden? Full text in Research Archive
Torjesen, Stina (2012). Kan mobiltjenester redde verden og skape fred? Full text in Research Archive
Kjærnet, Heidi & Torjesen, Stina (2008). Det vanskelige naboskapet. Full text in Research Archive
Weltzien, Åsmund; Torjesen, Stina & Stankovic, Tatjana (2010). Regional Change. How will the rise of China and India shape Afghanistan’s stabilization process? Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The brief examines how regional developments in Central/South Asia may affect the stabilization process in Afghanistan. Given that regional security dynamics played an important role in aggravating the conflict in Afghanistan in the 1990s, the report juxtaposes the situation in the 1990s with the present state of affairs. The brief argues that the regional dynamics in 2010 are very different from the 1990s and puts forward four arguments to that effect. First, the improved India- Pakistan relationship is crucial for regional stability. In assessing prospects for positive developments between India and Pakistan, it is necessary to factor in broader regional concerns, especially the now cordial, yet tense relations between the rising powers India and China. Second, with its new economic and political weight, the stage is set for China to take the role as regional hegemon in the wider Central/South Asia region, although it is uncertain if or when it will choose to enact this role. Third, regional energy projects might in the long-term increase cooperation and build confidence, but developments are slow. By contrast, improved transport networks and increased trade have positively affected the region. Fourth, Iran’s nuclear program poses an indirect, but serious challenge to regional stability. Take together these four arguments highlight the increasing salience of India and China. Moreover, the brief illustrates how regional affairs in 2010 are a mix of inter-state rivalry and insecurity together with patterns of economic cooperation. The risk still exists that regional insecurities could aggravate the internal rivalries in Afghanistan and the regional environment certainly creates additional challenges to Afghanistan’s stabilization process. However, the regional environment looks less prone to feed into and augment internal rivalries when compared with the 1990s.
Coning, Cedric De; Jansson, Johanna; Lotze, Walter & Torjesen, Stina (2010). Conference Proceedings. Critical Perspectives on Contemporary Peacebuilding: Towards Change in Concepts and Approaches. NUPI. ISSN 9788270022854. Full text in Research Archive
Kjærnet, Heidi & Torjesen, Stina (2008). Afghanistan and regional instability: A risk assessment. Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt. ISSN 9788270021802. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The report offers a stocktaking of Afghanistan’s regional challenges. It finds that domestic instability in Pakistan, strains in Pakistan–Afghanistan relations and insecurities associated with the US–Iran stand-off on Iran’s nuclear programme continue to pose the most significant regional risks to the stability of Afghanistan. There are, however, a number of additional challenges: the failure of the USA and its allies to enable a substantial dialogue on Afghanistan with Russia and China, in addition to India and Pakistan’s continued rivalry, create a suboptimal regional environment for Afghanistan’s stabilisation process. There are also serious regional challenges related to drugs trafficking and water sharing. Finally, the report discusses the situation in two of Afghanistan’s (lesser known) neighbours in detail. It finds that Uzbekistan is unstable: regime collapse in this country is one possible scenario – and this would entail grave consequences for Afghanistan, especially the northern regions. Turkmenistan, by contrast, whose long time dictator Saparmurat Niyazov died in December 2006, seems stable in the short to medium term. The report ends by providing a set of policy recommendations for Norwegian policymakers.
Torjesen, Stina & Øverland, Indra (2006). The battle for Azerbaijan : Azeri Perspectives on the Observation of the 2005 Parliamentary Elections and the Post-Election Period. Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt. ISSN 9788270021246. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This report seeks to highlight the role of international observer missions of the 9 November 2005 parliamentary election in Azerbaijan. It also presents in-depth assessments of the pre- and post-election situation in the country. The six articles that are presented in the volume have been produced by leading scholars or development practitioners in Azerbaijan. The report forms part of the ‘Network for Election Observation and Exchange’. This is project that is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Torjesen, Stina (2006). The political economy of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR). Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt. ISSN 9788270021420. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Selective literature review and preliminary agenda for research: Recent insights on war economies have important implications for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR). This paper identifies an underlying dilemma of DDR: on the one hand, in order to convince warring factions to commit to peace, DDR strategies will have to offer significant incentives that in turn may entrench the factions’ economic and political standing. On the other hand, offering the armed factions important peacetime roles may jeopardise post-war economic reconstruction, perpetuate cycles of underdevelopment and risk entrenching instability. It is argued in the paper that while more insights are needed on how DDR can be improved, it is equally important to go one step further and identify the positive as well as negative consequences for the economy, the market and the state when attempts at comprehensive disarmament and reintegration of combatants are undertaken. The paper discusses key findings from the literature on political economy of armed conflict and suggests possible directions for new research.
Torjesen, Stina & Øverland, Indra (2006). Observing or participating in regime change? Kyrgyz perspectives on the role of international election observation missions in 2005. Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt. ISSN 9788270021239. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This report offers an in-dept analysis of the role of international election observation missions in during the political upheavals in Kyrgyzstan in 2005. It presents the work of three leading, young academics from Kyrgyzstan. The report forms part of the ‘NUPI Network for Election Observation and Exchange’. This is project that is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The starting point for the assessments presented here is the realisation that international election observer missions played a central part in the events that eventually lead to the toppling of President Askar Akaev’s administration in march 2005. Kyrgyzstan is also a case that highlights the immense challenges that face election observation missions in non consolidated democracies of the former Soviet Union. Many of these countries, Kyrgyzstan included, have developed traditions of deep-seated and sophisticated manipulation of election procedures. Given these preconditions, the three articles aim to assess from differing perspectives how election observation was conducted in the country in 2005.

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Published Apr. 16, 2024 11:33 AM - Last modified Apr. 16, 2024 11:33 AM