Erik Oddvar Eriksen is professor of political science at ARENA- Advanced Research on the Europeanisation of the Nation State - at the University of Oslo, Norway. He is Professor II at Centre of Professional Studies, The University College of Oslo, and holds an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Aalborg, Denmark. His main research fields are political theory, democratic governance, public policy and European integration. His interest in legitimate governance has led to publications on democracy in the EU, governance and leadership, functions and limits of the state, deliberative democracy, communicative leadership, regional politics, and the welfare state.