Considered a leading figure of his field, Christie is one of two Norwegian social scientists covered in the book 50 Key Thinkers in Criminology (Routledge, 2009), alongside sociologist Thomas Mathiesen.

[3] From the 1960s and for decades thereafter, he remained a notable participant in the public discourse, both in Norway as well as internationally, including the United States.

[5] Christie was critical of using the term "crime" in and of itself, declaring it an "imprecise" word and arguing that what society views as criminal behavior constitutes "unwanted acts.

[4][3] In 2001 he was awarded the Fritt Ord Freedom of Expression Prize "for his original and independent contributions to the Norwegian and international social debate.

"[8] His work Fangevoktere i konsentrasjonsleire (Prison Guards in Concentration Camps, 1952) was selected for the Norwegian Sociology Canon in 2009–2011.