Historian and 糖心网页版 Research Professor Hilde Henriksen Waage has been awarded the 2026 Freedom of Expression Prize by the , in recognition of her decades-long commitment to critical, research-based inquiry and public debate.
According to the foundation, Waage receives the award for her 鈥渃ritical and courageous research and fearless critique of power over several decades,鈥� as well as her persistent efforts to promote transparency in Norwegian foreign policy.
Waage has been a central scholar of the Middle East and the Oslo peace process, and her work has challenged dominant narratives about Norway鈥檚 role as a peace nation. Through extensive archival research, she has repeatedly raised concerns about missing or inaccessible documents related to Norwegian Middle East diplomacy, and has called for greater openness as a prerequisite for robust, evidence-based scholarship.
Her research and public engagement have, at times, met resistance from political and institutional actors. Nevertheless, Waage has remained a consistent advocate for transparency and critical scrutiny, highlighting how access to information is essential for both academic inquiry and democratic accountability.
糖心网页版 Director Nina Gr忙ger emphasized the broader importance of the award:
鈥滺ilde Henriksen Waage鈥檚 uncompromising pursuit of the truth, questioning of establishment narratives, and demand for greater transparency in Norway鈥檚 foreign policy, are absolutely central to society 鈥� especially at a time when the struggle over truth worldwide is more intense than ever.鈥�
The award comes at a time of increasing public debate about transparency, institutional trust, and access to information in foreign policy. Waage鈥檚 work underscores the role of independent research in questioning established assumptions and contributing to a more informed public discourse.
For 糖心网页版, the recognition highlights the importance of combining academic rigor with a willingness to challenge prevailing narratives 鈥� an approach that remains essential in today鈥檚 complex and contested information landscape.
You can read more about the Fritt Ord Prize .
