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Forum for Contemporary History (completed)

Forum for Contemporary History (FCH) was a group of senior historians, postdoctoral scholars and PhD students who conducted research on issues in contemporary history, and particularly recent changes in the political culture of Norway, as well as other Western societies.

Statue of a lion in front of the Storting.
Photo: Heia Espen

About the project

The forum aimed to advance interpretation and understanding of our own times through an historical and comparative analysis of political and societal changes that have occurred during the last three to four decades.

The focus of research was on the period 1970-2000, but we also investigated the foundations of post-war political and cultural paradigms extending backwards to 1900.

The Forum brought together a number of subprojects within the fields of social, economic and political history, focusing on topics such as: social movements, family policy and feminism, the consumer society, and security and foreign policy.

Through a shared emphasis on political culture, these subprojects seek an understanding of broader changes.

Sub projects

  • Between market and demography: The ideology and practice of modern housework. Project leader: Professor Gro Hagemann.

  • The History of Collective Movements. Project leader: Professor Knut Kjeldstadli.
  • Consumer Culture and the Organisation of Consumers. Project leader: Professor Even Lange.
  • Academics and Intellectuals in the Public Sphere. Project leader: Professor Jan Eivind Myhre.
  • The Norwegian Peace Tradition. Project leader: Professor Helge Pharo
  • America in Our Hearts? Project leader: Professor Helge Pharo
  • Oral History. Project leaders: Professors Even Lange and Helge Pharo.
  • The External Dimensions of European Integration. Project leaders: Professors Even Lange and Helge Pharo.
  • The Missing Peace - conflict and politics in the Middle East.
  • Norwegian shipping history. Project leader: Professor Even Lange.

Networks

Communication and dissemination

The forum placed high emphasis on international co-operation, and contributed to international research through conferences, workshops and publications.

The forum collaborated with other contemporary history projects, took part in international exchange of researchers and students, and received a number of visiting fellows and students from other universities. In addition to publications by individual members, the forum was responsible for the book series Issues in Contemporary History .

Published Nov. 6, 2020 2:15 PM - Last modified Jan. 27, 2021 3:55 PM

Contact

Helge Pharo
Even Lange

Project leaders

Participants

Detailed list of participants