Expertise in diplomacy paired with research in the humanities
The former Danish ambassador to Moscow and NATO is part of a research team at the Nordic Humanities Centre examining the impact of the Ukraine war on the Nordic region. He is a new so-called practice fellow and in this interaction, deep knowledge of negotiation tactics and realpolitik is combined with knowledge of history, important theoretical concepts and precise cultural understanding.
Knowledge from the engine room
- It's a pure plus-sum game, he says and elaborates:- I've enjoyed it and got a lot of inspiration. When you talk to people who have a different approach to things and a different view of history, you become wiser. At the same time, I think I've also been able to contribute with my knowledge from the 'engine room', he says, highlighting an online presentation at the Nordic Humanities Center, where the head of the Danish Cultural Institute in Riga, Latvia, Anna Enemark, had a dialogue with researchers about Danish cultural presence in the Baltic countries.
Former Ambassador Carsten Søndergaard
In his long career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carsten Søndergaard has been ambassador for Denmark in the following countries: Russia, Ireland, NATO ambassador, Germany, Turkey
”It's important to realise what it means that part of the population is of Russian origin and speaks Russian
- You really have to keep in mind what it means that part of the population is of Russian origin and speaks Russian. It's both historically and legally a bit of a minefield, and I hope I was able to pass on some of my experience, says Carsten Søndergaard, who was ambassador in Moscow when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Practice Fellow creates dynamics
And it is precisely to strengthen the connection between the university and society that the Nordic Humanities Center has created this new type of fellowship.- Right now, we are very happy to host Carsten Søndergaard, whose many years of experience from diplomacy is highly enriching for our discussions, says Anders Engberg-Pedersen, center director, and continues
- In the future, there will be opportunities for more collaborations of this kind, where people working in NGOs, the civil service, museums or other social institutions can join the center for a period as a practice fellow. This creates a really good dynamic where researchers get direct access to experience and knowledge from practice, while our practice fellows can draw on the center's research, says Anders Engberg-Pedersen.
In 2025/26, the group of researchers at the Nordic Humanities Center are working on a research project on the re-emergence of geopolitics and the impact of the Ukraine war on the Nordic countries.
In this context, the input from Carsten Søndergaard is both timely and relevant. He is in the process of translating his extensive knowledge of Russian negotiation style into an article aimed at a broad audience and which is part of the series of articles that the center calls Hum Briefs. The articles will be published on Videnskab.dk.
Russian approach to war
Carsten Søndergaard will also give a presentation in the research group on the unique Russian approach to war, which in his understanding is reminiscent of the motives that guided the city-states of ancient Greece, namely self-interest - fear - and honour.
- I once mentioned to a female Russian interlocutor that there was some comparability there. "It's pure copy paste," she replied," says Carsten Søndergaard, who today is an independent consultant and member of the international network The Alphen Group, which deals with European security and transatlantic cooperation.
Know the pitch you want to play on
When asked how the research world and the civil service can best benefit from each other, the former top diplomat offers the following advice.
- Of course, it's wise to think in terms of clear messages and write so that others have time to read the content. Sometimes it depends on the situation which official has the opportunity to delve deeper into things. Either way, both parties get the best results by knowing the field you want to play on, says Carsten Søndergaard.