Hegre's opponents at the defense were Professor John R. Oneal, Department of Political Science, University of Alabama  and Associate Professor Erik Gartzke, Department of Political Science & Saltzman Institute for War and Peace Studies, Colombia University.

Professor Emeritus Knut Midgaard coordinated the doctoral committee. The ceremony was led by Professor Asbjørn Rødseth, Dean of the Social Sciences Faculty, University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo's Uniforum newspaper featured Hegre and his research this week (article in Norwegian).

Earlier this year Hegre was awarded a major grant by the Research Council of Norway, under the new YFF programme to support outstanding young investigators (Yngre fremragende forskere). 220 applicants competed for this funding and 26 winners were chosen by an international evaluation panel. The five-year project, on 'Political Institutions, Development and a Domestic Peace', is Hegre's current research priority.