Curriculum

• April 2023-March 2026: Associatie Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Center for Border Region Studies. Coordinator Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies B-SHAPES
• Sept 2022: Head of Research Cluster Danish-German Minority Issues, European Centre for Minority Issues, Flensburg, Germany

Sept.-Dec. 2013: Visiting researcher at University of Victoria, BC, Canada, Centre for Global Studies

September 2005: Associate Professor of Contemporary History
January 2004: IFG is merged with the University of Southern Denmark, renamed Department of Border Region Studies
September 2002: Ph.D. from University of Southern Denmark
September 2001: Assistant professor of Contemporary History IFG
January-June 2001: Project associate at the Danish Institute of Border Region Studies (IFG), Interreg-project Historical atlas Schleswig-Holstein 1867-2001
1997-2000: Research associate at Studieafdelingen ved Dansk Centralbibliotek for Sydslesvig
September.- December 1996: Project associate at Schleswig-Holstein Institut for Peace Research, Kiel
1993-1996 Guide on study-tours, Studiosus-Studienreisen, Munich
June 1995: M.A. in History, Political Science and Nordic Philology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel
1994 Graduate Student Intern at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI
1989-1995 Studies in History, Political Science and Nordic Philology at Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany, and University of Copenhagen, Denmark
1987-1989 Alternative civil service, Hamburg
September 1987: Bachelor in Business Administration, Business Academy Hamburg
1984-1987 Theoretical and practical studies in Business Administration, Business Academy Hamburg and Deutsche BP.
1970-1984: School in Hamburg, Fort Defiance (USA)
19 July 1964 Born in Hamburg

Research areas

Bigger research projects

Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies (B-SHAPES) is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action analyzing and assessing how borders still are a key factor of how we understand societies. Nine European universities, one research institute, a national museum, a foundation, a political association, a consultancy and an art collective have come together for three years. In cooperation with Europeans living in border regions, we will examine the role of borders under three lenses: Euroscepticism in border regions, minorities in border regions, and border landscapes as heritage. The special border region focus promises new insights on how borders shape perceptions of societies, but also how the story of borders can be narrated differently than from a purely national perspective.

Borders in Globalization: a collaborative research project led by University of Victoria, BC, Canada, funded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council involving 23 universities and 35 non-academic partners worldwide (1st Grant Period 2013-2020, 2nd Grand Period 2021-2027). The project will exchange global expertise, organize debates and analyse current developments in border policies and their impact on economics, culture, security, governance and environmental issues.

ENTAN – the European Non-Territorial Autonomy Network is a COST Action aimed at examining the concept of non-territorial autonomy (NTA), from both a comparative and comprehensive perspective. ENTAN particularly focuses on NTA arrangements for reducing inter-ethnic tensions within a state and on the accommodation of the needs of different communities while preventing calls to separate statehood. The Action tackles recent developments in the theories and practices of cultural diversity; minority rights (including linguistic and educational rights); state functions and sovereignty; conflict resolution through policy arrangements; policy making and inclusiveness; self-governance and autonomy. The main objective is to investigate the existing NTA mechanisms and policies and to develop new modalities for the accommodation of differences in the context of growing challenges stemming from globalisation, regionalisation and European supranational integration. Along with issues related to the culture and education of diverse groups within a nation state, and legal arrangements for the recognition and practice of separate identities, the Action focuses on political strategies and policies that have the potential to increase the autonomy of stateless nations and to empower cultural, ethnic and religious communities. The network is built upon agreed research activities, which include interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary group work, the training and empowerment of young researchers, academic conferences and publications, and the dissemination of results to policy makers, civil society organisations and communities (2018-2023).

Unfamiliarity as signs of European times: scrutinizing historical representation of otherness and contemporary daily practices in border regions (Co-funded by the European Science Foundation, in cooperation with Radboud University Nijmegen, Utrecht University, University of Maastricht, Free University Brussels, University of Eastern Finland, University of Lodz).

'When the People were asked' -  a comparative analysis of the post WW I plebiscites in the context of region, nation, border and identity (Co-funded by Heritage Agency of Denmark)

Research areas
Contemporary history
Border Regions in Europe
Cross-border cooperation
Advisory activities on regional cross-border cooperation in Europe
National minorities
Danish-German history
History of the Danish-German border region
Regionalism in Europe

Research areas

Research Cluster Global Challenges to Rule-based Order