The series of Advanced Research Courses offered by the Norwegian Research School in History will delve into a specialized topic and focus on historiography and research methods. This particular course, organized by the University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, will focus on conflicting and contested pasts, memory wars, and transnational history between states and regions in various parts of the globe, from Oceania and Eurasia to Europe and the USA.
The last two decades have seen growing regional and inter-state conflicts over history and an increased tendency to regulate the past by issuing resolutions and legislation. Much is at stake when it comes to the narratives of the past, including issues of democracy, racial equality, political identity, and gender. In some cases, the regulation of the past is done to protect the history of marginalized or repressed groups, in other cases it is aimed at protecting state interests and hegemonic narratives of the past.
This course offers lectures and group work on various tools and fields of history battles, such as jurisdiction, monuments and commemorative traditions, museum exhibitions, school curricula, and textbooks.
Learning objectives
- The student knows theoretical and methodological challenges and opportunities arising from the study of conflicted and marginalized histories and can assess the relevance and merits of different approaches.
- The student is able to discuss research questions and scholarly problems related to conflicted pasts and collective memorialization.
- The student is able to recognise ethical challenges and participate in scholarly and public debate.
ECTS: 3 ECTS (75-90 hours, including preparations and participation)
Confirmed lecturers and structure of the course
This course will consist of a combination of plenary lectures with discussions and group work. More information will follow.
Confirmed teachers and topic seminar titles are:
- Professor Kari Aga Myklebost: Russian memory diplomacy and memory wars
- Professor Marianna N. Soleim: War graves, war memories and uses of history
- Associate Professor Jonathan Crossen: Confronting colonization
- Senior Advisor Kata Bohus: Dealing with difficult pasts
Each teacher will prepare an abstract and ca. 40 pages of reading to her or his topic. To each list of readings, the participants will prepare a short reading response, 400–600 words.
The participants shall also submit a paper (2500–3000 words) to be discussed in group sessions with a teacher present.
Learning platform
- The learning platform used for this course is Microsoft Teams.
- Both the manuscript and reading responses must be uploaded in MS Teams.
Essential information
- Application deadline: 1st September. Click here to access the application form.
- We accept applications on a first-come-first-served basis for students of the partner institutions and other members of NRSH. For non-members, we will offer available spaces for PhD students in history and other historical disciplines after the registration date.
- We will assess the applications shortly after the deadline and inform you of the assessment no later than five days after the deadline.
- Deadline for manuscripts: 2nd October
- Papers will be circulated and read in advance, and each participant will serve as main commentator and chair on another’s contribution in the group discussions.
- Students are expected to attend and participate through the whole course.
- 200–250 pages required readings.
- The course will be conducted in English or Scandinavian, depending on the language skills of the participating PhD students.
Contact information:
- Course convener: Kari Aga Myklebost, UiT
- Administrative support: Mathias Eriksen, UiT
Partner institutions of the Norwegian Research School in History:
- University of Agder, Department of Religion, Philosophy and History
- University of Bergen, Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion
- BI - Norwegian Business Schoow, Department of Law and Governance
- Nord University, Faculty of Social Science
- NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Humanities
- University of Oslo, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History
- UiT - The Artic University of Norway, Department of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology
- Volda University College - Social Sciences and History
- University of South East Norway
Strategic Partner: