Mikael Wigell

Research Director
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Expertise
  • International economic relations
  • geoeconomics
  • sanctions
  • hybrid threats
  • hybrid warfare
  • Chinese and Russian grand strategies
  • EU's external economic relations

Mikael Wigell works a Research Director at FIIA. He is an internationally recognized pioneer in geoeconomics research and an expert in hybrid threats analytics.

Wigell has held visiting fellowships at the University of Cambridge and Oxford University. He currently serves as Chairman of The Geoeconomics Society, Member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network, and External Geopolitical Advisor to Burson.  

Wigell’s research has been published in leading policy and scientific journals including Comparative Strategy, International Affairs, The Washington Quarterly, and World Development. He has been Chairman of the Finnish International Studies Association. His current editorial roles include Co-Editor-in-Chief of Law & Geoeconomics (a scientific journal published by De Gruyter Brill) and Co-Editor of Springer Studies in Law & Geoeconomics (a book series). 

He has led international research projects at the intersection of economics, geopolitics, hybrid threats, and resilience, funded by organizations such as the European Commission, NATO and the Nordic Council of Ministers. He also written reports and provided advice to organizations such as the Development Bank of Japan and the European Parliament. He is a former member of the Development Policy Committee of the Government of Finland.    

Dr. Wigell holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and the Title of Docent at Tampere University.

Degrees

PhD, London School of Economics, 2011
Diploma in International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University (SAIS)

Language skills
English, Finnish, Spanish, Swedish (working languages); French, German, Italian, Portuguese (receptive skills)
Positions of trust

Editor-in-Chief, Law & Geoeconomics (published by Brill De Gruyter), 2024-
Editor-in-Chief, Springer Studies in Law & Geoeconomics (book series), 2023-
Chairman, The Geoeconomics Society, 2023-
External Associate, King’s College London, 2023
Member, World Economic Forum Expert Network, April 2022-present
Member of Editorial Board, Nordic Review of International Affairs, 2022-present
Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Danish Foreign Policy Review, 2020-present
Non-Resident Associate, European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE), 2019-
Chairman, Finnish International Studies Association, 2017-2019
Senior Editor, Journal of Autonomy and Security Studies, 2017-2022
Board Member, Development Policy Committee of the Government of Finland, 2014-2015
Board Member, Scientific Board, The Åland Islands Peace Institute, 2011-2022

Visiting positions

Visiting Scholar, University of Cambridge, 2024
Visiting Fellow, Oxford University, 2018
Visiting Fellow, Universidad Torcuato di Tello, 2005

Work experience

Programme Director, Global Security Programme, FIIA, 2019-2021
Senior Research Fellow, Global Security Programme, FIIA, 2014-2019
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Research Council of Finland, 2013-2016
Visiting Fellow, Oxford University, 2018
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Academy of Finland, 2013-2016
Visiting Researcher, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 2008
Visiting Researcher, Universidad Torcuato di Tella, 2005
Consultant, Development Bank of Japan, 2003
Teaching Assistant, Johns Hopkins University, 2002
Trainee, Council of the European Union, 2001

Education

PhD, London School of Economics, Department of International Development, 2011
LSc, Åbo Akademi University, Department of Political Science, 2003
Diploma, Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, 2002
MSc, Åbo Akademi University, Department of Political Science, 2001

Degrees

PhD, London School of Economics, 2011
Diploma in International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University (SAIS)


All publications

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