New Centre for Labour Studies in Sweden

From Lex Heerma van Voss <lhv@iisg.nl >, 24 March 1997

Lars Olsson (lars.olsson@hist.lu.se) sends us this report on new developments in Sweden.

I will gladly give the subscribers to Labnet some information about the ideas regarding a Centre for Labour Studies in Landskrona (30 km from Lund).

The Centre shall be a cooperation between the University of Lund, the City of Landskrona and the Labour Movement of Sweden. The aim of the Centre will be to

• research Swedish and international labour history
• give national and international classes on labour history at all levels from doctorand programs to classes for non-academic labour historians (Dig-Where-You-Stand-historians)
• initiate so-called research circles, where an academic researcher and a group of trade unionists in cooperation document and analyse the history of that group of workers
• run a regular series of labour history seminars with an academic or non-academic lecturer presenting her/his research
• organise local, regional, national and international conferences on labour history
• arrange a permanent exhibition on Swedish labour history. The idea also is to supplement this with temporary exhibitions in connection with research projects

Last week, the Swedish government granted 500 000 SKr to the University of Lund, Department of History, to develop that programme. I am responsible for the work. Hopefully, we will be able to create a position for a full professor of labour history, a position for an assistant professor and a position for a doctorand student with the programme.

Any questions about or reactions to the programme are welcome.

Lars Olsson