Gender and Peace in the Nordics - A Research Network
This network explores gendered approaches to peace, carried out in the Nordic region from the early Cold War up to the present day. It brings together humanities scholars and social scientists interested in analysing the ways in which established approaches to conflict and security have been refined and challenged via gendered peace activism.
About the network
The Nordic countries have presented themselves as champions of peace across global, regional and domestic arenas. The so-called “Nordic peace brand” has portrayed the region as uniquely stable and co-operative, and as an internationally minded promoter of security, humanitarianism, and conflict resolution. Instead of assuming this as a given, in recent years scholars have started to problematise this image, its history, and its legacy.
The network welcomes research focused on integrating gender into civil society perspectives and grassroots activism, as well as state-centred narratives and elite diplomatic histories. It aims to shed light on transnational connections, gendered ideologies and praxes, and continuities and ruptures in Nordic approaches to peace.
When examining the history and present day of the Nordic region, it is important to pay attention to (geo)political differences and cultural nuances against the backdrop of the Cold War and its aftermath. This network seeks to produce nuanced analyses of gender in relation to peace in the Nordic region, emphasising a plurality of perspectives and avoiding oversimplified and generalised narratives. We also welcome research focused on areas and contexts beyond the Nordic countries and seek to develop transnational and comparative perspectives together with scholars working on similar topics globally.
Upcoming events
- International hybrid workshop “Diverse & Divergent Approaches to Peace and Gender in the Nordics and Beyond, 1980s to Present,” Thursday 20th August 2026, University of Bergen, Norway. Learn more about the workshop here.
Past events
- International workshop “Gender, Class and Peace in the Nordic Countries and Beyond in the 1980s,” Thursday 5th – Friday 6th February 2026, Swedish Labour Movement's Archives and Library, Huddinge, Sweden
- Inaugural network meeting, Tuesday 5th - Wednesday 6th August 2025, Finnish Literature Society SKS, Helsinki, Finland
Organising Committee
Senior Lecturer Sanela Bajramovic (Örebro University)
Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer Yulia Gradskova (Södertörn University)
Assoociate Professor Heidi Kurvinen (University of Bergen)
Assistant Professor Valgerður Pálmadóttir (University of Akureyri)
Postdoctoral Researcher Hannah Kaarina Yoken (University of Jyväskylä)
Kontakt
To join the network’s mailing list, please contact Hannah Kaarina Yoken.