In June 2023,Diesen attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). His attendance,travel and accommodation were paid for by the foundation Think Arctic,part of the Putin-backed Roscongress Foundation. At the conference,the University of St. Petersburg launched a new thinktank,GORKI ("The Geopolitical Observatory for Russia's Key Issues"),led by former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and listing Diesen as one of its twenty "top researchers". Diesen said he knew nothing of the thinktank.[2]
Diesen has written some op-eds published in Aftenposten,some co-authored with Arne Treholt.[27][28] One 2020 op-ed with Treholt,a convicted KGB agent,stated that Russia has "legitimate interests and security needs" and that Russia was unfairly demonized as a security threat.[29] The article also argues that Norway was becoming the frontline state in the West's war on Russia. The paper's former foreign affairs editor and Moscow correspondent Kjell Dragnes[no] wrote that Diesen and Treholt's article recycled Russian propaganda,including false claims about NATO exercises in Scandinavia and turning reality upside down by ignoring the growth of Russian military aggression towards Norway since 2010.[9]
Palm Beach Atlantic University historian Roger Chapman's H-Net review of Diesen’s 2020 book The Decay of Western Civilization and Resurgence of Russia describes the book as an ideologically charged defense of Putin’s Russia (Diesen calls Russia's incursions into neighboring countries as “nation-building initiatives”) and an "incarnation of Russian messianic thinking",which romanticizes authoritarianism and positions Russia as a cultural savior amidst Western decline. Chapman argues that Diesen's ideas resonate with those of the alt-right,noting Diesen’s admiration for figures like Steve Bannon and his approval of authoritarianism as a “moral virtue.”[30]
Russian studies scholar Susanna Rabow-Edling[no]'s Nordisk Østforum[no] review of Russian Conservatism (2021) criticizes Diesen for blurring the line between scholarly analysis and ideological advocacy,noting that his use of ideologically loaded concepts undermines the book’s academic credibility. As she writes,“Diesen’s book is difficult to read,since it is unclear whether it constitutes a societal analysis or a partisan contribution to the debate on Russia’s future,”adding that he blends “subjective judgments and objective analysis”while presenting conservative assumptions as universal truths.[31]Russian Conservatism was described by The Christians Party leader Erik Selle as the "year’s most important book";Selle took the term "national conservativism" from Diesen to describe his own ideology.[32]
Diesen’s 2022 book Russophobia is about anti-Russian sentiment. It rejects as Russophobic propaganda the accusation that Russia was preparing an invasion of Ukraine;however,Russia's full invasion of Ukraine took place before the book was published.[33] In a review in the periodical Vagant,Russian studies scholar Kåre Johan Mjør argued that the work itself functions as propaganda. Mjør contended that the book employs sweeping generalizations,lacks engagement with relevant academic literature,and selectively cites sources to promote a pro-Kremlin narrative,concluding that the book fails to meet basic standards of scholarly rigor.[34] In a review for Media,War &Conflict,Chang Zhang and Ting Zhou of the Communication University of China described the book as an insightful analysis of Russophobia in the West and its negative implications especially for the latter. They concluded that the book "has arguably drawn a delicate balance between theoretical reflectivity,historical depth and empirical breadth."[35]
In Spring 2022,after Russia's full invasion of Ukraine,Diesen was widely criticised for his regular writing for RT.[8][36] The Swedish journalist Patrik Oksanen said that Diesen is "part of the Russian propaganda machinery."[8]Aage Borchgrevink of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee said that Diesen has "an important role in RT as the Western expert,which gives legitimacy to what clearly appears to be the Kremlin's version [...] his writings are unreliable,the factual basis is doubtful,and characterized by the content and form of Russian propaganda,as expressed in RT and Sputnik."[7] In responding,Diesen said he opposes Russia's military action against Ukraine.[36]
Diesen states that a significant reason for the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine is NATO's eastward expansion and Russian security concerns regarding Ukraine membership in the alliance. He believes that the conflict is largely a proxy war between NATO and Russia over control of the Black Sea region with Ukraine as the victim of their power struggle. Nonetheless,Diesen believes that the Russian invasion was a serious misjudgment by the country's leadership.[37][38][non-primary source needed]
Peace Research Institute Oslo's Pavel K. Baev,in his review of The Ukraine War and the Eurasian World Order (2024),describes Diesen’s book as an uncritical academic defense of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,stating it attempts to justify Russian aggression using “blend of shallow history,vulgar geopolitics and undiluted propaganda.”Baev criticizes Diesen for presenting the war as a positive event,“the graveyard of liberal hegemony”,and for relying on “lengthy quotes from Putin and Xi Jinping”in place of substantive analysis or theoretical grounding.[39]Geoffrey Roberts praised the book in his review for The Political Quarterly. Writing that Diesen is a soft realist with the book being "as much about ideas,values and subjectivities as transformations in power structures". Roberts states that "In no way does Diesen justify Putin's action—‘a war of aggression with unpredictable consequences’—but he does try to understand it." Ultimately,according to Roberts,Diesen sees that Western policies in Ukraine will lead to the transition of international relations from that of liberal hegemony dominated by the United States to a multipolar Eurasian world order.[40]
In March 2025,a group of 20 Norwegian academics published an open letter accusing the Norwegian Helsinki Committee of attempting to curtail Diesen’s academic freedom.[41] The Committee rejected the allegations as baseless,stating that they had not advocated for any form of censorship or dismissal,but had exercised their own freedom of expression in criticizing Diesen's role in disseminating Russian propaganda.[42] 50 academics and public figures signed a counter-statement in support of the Committee,defending its right to publicly criticize Diesen’s views and methods. They argued that academic freedom must be grounded in truth-seeking and scholarly integrity,and asserted that Diesen "frequently operates well outside of that scope."[43] 37 University of South-Eastern Norway staff also published an open letter condemning Diesen's views.[44]
In May 2025,Diesen faced renewed criticism from commentators and researchers who accused him of actively promoting Russian state narratives under the guise of academic analysis. Former minister Torbjørn Røe Isaksen criticized Diesen’s rhetorical style and misrepresentation of academic sources.[45] Aage Borchgrevink argued that Diesen’s public statements,such as casting doubt on Russian responsibility for the Bucha massacre,violate basic norms of academic integrity,and called for investigation by his university’s research ethics board.[46] Scholars Kåre Johan Mjør[no] and Sven G. Holtsmark criticised Diesen's work for lacking scholarly rigor and promoting an ideological narrative aligned with Russian state propaganda,arguing that his publications rely on selective use of sources,omit crucial context,and fall short of academic standards,replacing analysis with ideological framing.[34][47] Holtsmark,a historian,argued that Diesen's claims misrepresent sources to frame Ukraine and the West as provocateurs and saboteurs of peace. He concludes that Diesen's claims overwhelmingly mirror Kremlin propaganda and distort reality under the guise of scholarly authority,offering ideology in place of analysis and systematically disregarding basic standards of academic integrity.[47]
Political activism
As recently as 2022,Diesen has supported the right-wing Christian conservative microparty,Conservative (not related to the Conservative Party),focusing on criticism of Western countries.[48]Geir Tønnessen[no] has described Diesen as the party leader's "mentor".[49][50]
In the 2025 Norwegian parliamentary election Diesen became the top candidate of the pro-Russian party Fred og Rettferdighet in Akershus.[51] In May 2025,Diesen appeared in an advertisement campaign on behalf of the party,which was widely criticized for echoing Russian propaganda and promoting pro-Kremlin talking points. The campaign,which featured slogans opposing aid to Ukraine and Diesen's name and picture,was condemned by politicians across the political spectrum,with critics accusing both the party and Diesen of spreading disinformation aligned with Russian state interests.[52] The Governing Mayor of Oslo,Eirik Lae Solberg,called the campaign "ugly" and "an echo of Russian propaganda."[53] Questions were also raised about the campaign's financing,which reportedly had a list price of 1.4 million kroner. As of late May,the party had only reported a single donation of 50,000 kroner,prompting the Political Parties Act Committee to launch an investigation into the legality and transparency of its funding.[54] Former Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide said that Diesen and Marielle Leraand promote "complete nonsense (...) they've swallowed the Russian propaganda whole."[55] It was revealed that the pro-Russian advertisement campaign was paid for by Atle Berge,a Russia-based billionaire who maintains a pro-Kremlin stance.[52] Diesen and his party have received support from the neo-Nazi organization Vigrid.[56]
Bibliography
Books
EU and NATO Relations with Russia: After the Collapse of the Soviet Union. Routledge. 2017. ISBN9781138063273.
D. Gopal; D. Ahlawat, eds. (2016). "Russia's Pivot to Asia: Constructing a Eurasian State in a Multipolar World". Indo-Pacific: Emerging Powers, Evolving Regions and Challenges to Global Governance. New Delhi: Aakar.
L. Grigoryev, ed. (2019). "Narrowing the widening political gap". Global Governance in Transformation: Challenges for International Cooperation. London: Springer.
H. Reginbogin; P. Lottaz, eds. (2020). "Neutral Power Russia?". Permanent Neutrality. Washington D.C.: Lexington Books.
A. Aseeva; J. Gorski, eds. (2020). "The Geoeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Union". The Law and Policy of New Eurasian Regionalization Economic Integration, Trade, and Investment in the Post-Soviet and Greater Eurasian Space. Leiden: Brill.
M. Patai; M. Horvath, eds. (2021). "Cooperation and Competition Among Tech Hubs Across Greater Eurasia in the Fourth Industrial Revolution". Age of Eurasia. Budapest: Prospektus.
"Coercing 'European Integration'? Assessing the posture of the CSDP". Polis (6): 81–102. 2015.
"Inter-democratic security institutions and the security dilemma: a neoclassical realist model of the EU and NATO after the end of the Soviet Union". East European Quarterly. 41 (2–3): 137–161. 2015.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lytomt Norum, Marie; Klungtveit, Harald S."Norsk professor fikk reisen betalt av Putin-tilknyttet stiftelse: Ført opp som medlem av tankesmie som skal motvirke sanksjoner"[Norwegian professor had his trip paid for by Putin-linked foundation: Listed as a member of think tank that will counter sanctions]. Filter Nyheter[no]. Retrieved 17 May 2025. Diesen har tidligere fått kritikk for å være bidragsyter hos RT, som i dag er et viktig verktøy for den russiske staten i internasjonal propaganda om Ukraina-krigen og tilstøtende forhold.[Diesen has previously received criticism for being a contributor to RT, which is today an important tool for the Russian state in international propaganda about the Ukraine war and related matters.]
↑ Vatn, Vegar (22 November 2024). "Stortingsrepresentant om professor Glenn Diesen: – Han er helt og fullt innlemmet i Kremls tankegods"[Representative of the Storting about Professor Glenn Diesen: – He is completely and completely incorporated into the Kremlin's ideology]. Tønsbergs Blad. Retrieved 17 May 2025. Stortingsrepresentant Kari-Anne Jønnes (H) mener professor Glenn Diesen fremstår som en del av Putins propagandamaskineri, og at det bør få konsekvenser.[Representative of the Storting Kari-Anne Jønnes (Conservative Party) believes that Professor Glenn Diesen appears to be part of Putin's propaganda machine, and that there should be consequences.]
↑ Tønnessen, Geir (8 September 2023). "Krigen i Ukraina: – Konservativt, partiet for deg som «forstår» Putin". Verdinytt (in Norwegian). Retrieved 4 September 2025. elle has engaged Professor Glenn Diesen as his mentor and the party's "Russia expert."... Selle has warmly recommended Diesen's book "Russian Conservatism" and, among other things, invited him to give lectures in internal party forums. Diesen, for his part, has come out and declared that the Conservative Party (formerly PDK) "has earned my vote."
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