Dag Blanck
Professor at Department of English; The Swedish Institute for North American Studies
- Telephone:
- +46 18 471 22 08
- E-mail:
- dag.blanck@engelska.uu.se
- Visiting address:
- Engelska parken, Thunbergsvägen 3 L
- Postal address:
- Box 527
751 20 Uppsala
- CV:
- Download CV
Short presentation
I am Professor of North American Studies and director of the Swedish Institute for North American Studies at Uppsala University. Trained as an historian I work in American immigration history and on trans-national relations between Sweden and the U.S. I teach courses in American history and race and ethnicity and serve as a commentator on the U.S. in Swedish media. I share my time between SINAS and the Swenson Swedish Immigration Reserach Center at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.
Biography
Since 1985 I have shared my time between Sweden and the U.S. My base in Sweden is Uppsala University, where I am Professor of North American Studies and the director of the Swedish Institute for North American Studies. I also have a (part-time) affiliation with the Department of History, where I teach and supervise essays. In the U.S. I serve as Director of the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, a national archives, library, and research institute for the study of Swedish migration to North America. For close to three decades I served as the co-director of Augustana College´s Summer School in Sweden (ASSIS).
My research interests include American immigration and ethnic history, with special emphasis on Swedish migration to North America; transnational cultural influences, with special emphasis on the relationship between Sweden and the U.S., and the nature and dynamics of multicultural societies. I have written and edited a dozen books and written some fifty articles. My current research focuses on a book-length study of the trans-Atlantic Swedish-American cultural and social relationships since 1850.
I teach American history, in particular American immigration history. I regularly teach introductory and advanced courses in American history in the American Studies program at SINAS. I have also taught in the areas of Swedish history and general migration history.
My undergraduate degrees are from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa) and Stockholm University (fil. kand) and my graduate training is from Uppsala University (Ph.D. 1997, docent 2005), with study and research periods at the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota and at the Stanford University Humanities Center.
My academic and administrative assignments include membership on the Board of Directors and the Publications Committee of the Swedish-American Historical Society (Chicago), and chairing Uppsala University’s Committee on Ethnic and Social Diversity. I am also the past President of Nordic Association for American Studies. Since 2015 I am the President of the American Studies Network (ASN). Since 1987, I have arranged some fifteen academic conferences and symposia in the U.S. and Sweden.

Publications
Selection of publications
The Transnational Viking: The Role of the Viking in Sweden, the United States, and Swedish America
Part of Journal of Transnational American Studies, 2016
- DOI for The Transnational Viking: The Role of the Viking in Sweden, the United States, and Swedish America
- Download full text (pdf) of The Transnational Viking: The Role of the Viking in Sweden, the United States, and Swedish America
Transnationalizing Swedish-American Relations: An Introduction to the Special Forum
Part of Journal of Transnational American Studies, 2016
"Very Welcome Home Mr. Swanson": Swedish Americans Encounter Homeland Swedes
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 107-121, 2016
Svenska uppfattningar om USA under två århundraden
Part of Det blågula stjärnbaneret., Carlsson Bokförlag, 2016
Amerikanska akademiska influenser i Sverige
Part of Det blågula stjärnbaneret, Carlsson Bokförlag, 2016
Part of Journal of American Ethnic History, p. 37-54, 2014
Traveling scholars : Swedish academic travelers across the Atlantic in the 20th century
Part of American foundations and the European welfare states, Syddansk Universitetsforlag, 2013
"Swedish Immigration since 1940"
Part of Immigrants in American History: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration, ABC Clio Books, 2013
Friends and Neighbors?: Patterns of Norwegian-Swedish Interaction in the United States
Part of Norwegians and Swedes in the United States, p. 5-20, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012
Norwegians and Swedes in the United States: Friends and Neighbors
Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012
Part of Les mondes universitaires face au marché, p. 31-47, Éditions Karthala, 2011
Part of Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, 2010
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 100-125, 2008
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 80-89, 2008
Part of Signums svenska kulturhistoria , p. 264-289, Signum, 2008
Television, education and the Vietnam War: Sweden and the United States during the post-war era
Part of The Americanization of Europe., p. 91-114, Berghahn Books, 2006
The creation of an ethnic identy: Being Swedish American in the Augustana Synod, 1860-1917
Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, Illinois, 2006
Strong Governance and Civic Participation: Some Notes on the Cultural Dimension of the Swedish Model
Part of Developing Cultures. Case Studies, Routledge, London, 2006
American influences in Sweden: reflections on a trans-atlantic relationship
Part of On and beyond the Mississippi, Augustana Historical Society, 2004
Scandinavians in old and new lands: Essays in Honor of H. Arnold Barton
Swedish-American Historical Society, 2004, 2004
On and beyond the Mississippi: Essays honoring Thomas Tredway
Augustana Historical Society, Rock Island, Illinois, 2004
The Myrdals and Kontakt med Amerika
Part of Notions of America, Södertörn Studies In English, Huddinge, 2004
Anti-Americanism in Sweden?: A Discussion of Terminology and Examples
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, 2003
The Concept of Being Scandinavian-American
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, 2002
`We Have a Lot to Learn from America’: the Myrdals and the question of American influences in Sweden
Part of Angles on the English-Speaking world. Trading Cultures. Nationalism and Globalization in American Studies, Museum Tusculanum, 2002
Swedish Americans and the 1918 gubernatorial campaign in Minnesota
Part of Swedes in the Twin Cities, 2001
Definitioner och kategoriseringar i USA: en utgångspunkt för positiv särbehandling
Part of Positiv särbehandling i Sverige och USA, p. 43-67, Carlsson, 2000
Recent publications
The Significance of Location: Practicing American History in Sweden
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 59-66, 2024
- DOI for The Significance of Location: Practicing American History in Sweden
- Download full text (pdf) of The Significance of Location: Practicing American History in Sweden
History and Ethnicity: The Case of the Swedish Americans
Part of Clio's Abode in Swedish America, p. 45-64, Swedish-American Historical Society, 2023
Introduction: Conceptualizing Swedish-American Relations
Part of Swedish-American Borderlands, p. 1-41, University of Minnesota Press, 2021
Från Yon Yohnson till Travis Bickle: Om amerikanska Sverigebilder
Part of Moderniteten som framgång och tragedi. En vänbok till Lars M Andersson om ett föränderligt 1900-tal, Nordic Academic Press, 2021
Academics on the Move: The Nature and Significance of a Swedish-American Academic Borderland
Part of Swedish-American Borderlands, University of Minnesota Press, 2021
All publications
Articles in journal
The Significance of Location: Practicing American History in Sweden
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 59-66, 2024
- DOI for The Significance of Location: Practicing American History in Sweden
- Download full text (pdf) of The Significance of Location: Practicing American History in Sweden
En annorlunda exceptionalism: President Barack Obama och en klassisk amerikansk tankefigur
Part of Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrift, p. 43-61, 2020
Svensk-amerikanska relationer: Om förnyelsen av ett forskningsfält
Part of Historisk Tidskrift, p. 86-95, 2019
The Transnational Viking: The Role of the Viking in Sweden, the United States, and Swedish America
Part of Journal of Transnational American Studies, 2016
- DOI for The Transnational Viking: The Role of the Viking in Sweden, the United States, and Swedish America
- Download full text (pdf) of The Transnational Viking: The Role of the Viking in Sweden, the United States, and Swedish America
Transnationalizing Swedish-American Relations: An Introduction to the Special Forum
Part of Journal of Transnational American Studies, 2016
"Very Welcome Home Mr. Swanson": Swedish Americans Encounter Homeland Swedes
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 107-121, 2016
Part of Journal of American Ethnic History, p. 37-54, 2014
Från det norröna till välfärdsstaten: Scandinavian Studies i USA
Part of Tidskrift för litteraturvetenskap, 2012
Two Churches, One Community: The Augustana Synod and the Covenant Church, 1860-1920
Part of Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, p. 158-174, 2012
Part of Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, 2010
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 100-125, 2008
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 80-89, 2008
Anti-Americanism in Sweden?: A Discussion of Terminology and Examples
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, 2003
The Concept of Being Scandinavian-American
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, 2002
Academic migration. Sweden and the United States
Part of Swedish American Genealogist, p. 233-243, 1999
Kategoriseringarnas kraft. Några perspektiv från den amerikanska historien
Part of Historisk tidskrift, p. 568-584, 1998
On Being Swedish in America. The Search for Identity
Part of Scandinavian Review, 1996
North Stars and Vasa Orders. On the Relationship between Sweden and Swedish America
Part of Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, p. 274-84, 1995
History and Ethnicity. The Case of the Swedish Americans
Part of Swedish-American Historical Quarterly, p. 58-73, 1995
Books
The creation of an ethnic identy: Being Swedish American in the Augustana Synod, 1860-1917
Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, Illinois, 2006
Swedes in the Twin Cities: Immigrant life and Minnesota's urban frontier
Minnesota Historical Society Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2001
Natur & Kultur, Stockholm, 1996
Chapters in book
History and Ethnicity: The Case of the Swedish Americans
Part of Clio's Abode in Swedish America, p. 45-64, Swedish-American Historical Society, 2023
Introduction: Conceptualizing Swedish-American Relations
Part of Swedish-American Borderlands, p. 1-41, University of Minnesota Press, 2021
Från Yon Yohnson till Travis Bickle: Om amerikanska Sverigebilder
Part of Moderniteten som framgång och tragedi. En vänbok till Lars M Andersson om ett föränderligt 1900-tal, Nordic Academic Press, 2021
Academics on the Move: The Nature and Significance of a Swedish-American Academic Borderland
Part of Swedish-American Borderlands, University of Minnesota Press, 2021
Vårt behov av USA: Om svensk-amerikanska relationer
Part of Kungl. Humanistiska Vetenskaps-Samfundet i Uppsala. Årsbok 2019-2020, Kungl. Humanistiska Vetenskaps-Samfundet i Uppsala, 2021
Four Versions of Swedish America
Part of Sacred Migrations. Borderlands of Community & Faith, Swedish-American Historical Society, 2020
Part of Stjärnspäckat, p. 55-55, Mittuniversitetet, 2020
Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen 100 år: Några synpunkter
Part of Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen 100 år 1919-2019, Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen, 2019
Migration and Modernity: A Swedish-American Argument
Part of The Dynamics and Contexts of Cultural Transfers, Avdelningen för litteratursociologi, 2017
Om att skriva svenskamerikansk historia
Part of Konstellationer., p. 173-184, Gidlunds förlag, 2017
Svenska uppfattningar om USA under två århundraden
Part of Det blågula stjärnbaneret., Carlsson Bokförlag, 2016
Amerikanska akademiska influenser i Sverige
Part of Det blågula stjärnbaneret, Carlsson Bokförlag, 2016
Swedes and Swedish Americans, 1940-Present
Part of Immigrants in American history, ABC-CLIO, 2013
Från det norröna till välfärdsstaten
Part of Skandinavien i tid och rum. Bidrag från CSS-konferenserna 2011 och 2012, CSS Acta Series, II (Copenhagen/Lund: Centre for Scandinavian Studies, 2013), Centre for Scandinavian Studies, 2013
Traveling scholars : Swedish academic travelers across the Atlantic in the 20th century
Part of American foundations and the European welfare states, Syddansk Universitetsforlag, 2013
"Swedish Immigration since 1940"
Part of Immigrants in American History: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration, ABC Clio Books, 2013
Friends and Neighbors?: Patterns of Norwegian-Swedish Interaction in the United States
Part of Norwegians and Swedes in the United States, p. 5-20, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012
Part of Les mondes universitaires face au marché, p. 31-47, Éditions Karthala, 2011
Part of Resultatdialog 2010., Vetenskapsrådet, 2010
“Om identitet och konserveringsmedel”
Part of The Story of Storage. I. Kompendium, Kungl Biblioteket, 2010
Part of Signums svenska kulturhistoria , p. 264-289, Signum, 2008
Television, education and the Vietnam War: Sweden and the United States during the post-war era
Part of The Americanization of Europe., p. 91-114, Berghahn Books, 2006
Strong Governance and Civic Participation: Some Notes on the Cultural Dimension of the Swedish Model
Part of Developing Cultures. Case Studies, Routledge, London, 2006
Part of Notions of America, Södertörns högskola, 2004
American influences in Sweden: reflections on a trans-atlantic relationship
Part of On and beyond the Mississippi, Augustana Historical Society, 2004
The Myrdals and Kontakt med Amerika
Part of Notions of America, Södertörn Studies In English, Huddinge, 2004
`We Have a Lot to Learn from America’: the Myrdals and the question of American influences in Sweden
Part of Angles on the English-Speaking world. Trading Cultures. Nationalism and Globalization in American Studies, Museum Tusculanum, 2002
On being Swedish in America today
Part of Hembygden & världen, 2002
Part of Norwegian-American Essays 2001, NAHA-Norway, Oslo, 2001
The Uses of Swedish in the Development of a Swedish-American Culture
Part of Not English Only. Redefining "American" in American Studies, Amstedam, VU University Press, 2001
Swedish Americans and the 1918 gubernatorial campaign in Minnesota
Part of Swedes in the Twin Cities, 2001
Definitioner och kategoriseringar i USA: en utgångspunkt för positiv särbehandling
Part of Positiv särbehandling i Sverige och USA, p. 43-67, Carlsson, 2000
Positiv särbehandling i praktiken: exemplet University of Iowa
Part of Positiv särbehandling i Sverige och USA, p. 101-123, Carlsson, 2000
Hur har positiv särbehandling fungerat i USA?
Part of Positiv särbehandling i Sverige och USA, p. 69-100, Carlsson, 2000
Swedish-American writing: 1912 and 1904
Part of The Multilingual Anthology of American Literature, New York University Press, New York, 2000
Att bli svensk-amerikan. Framväxten av en svensk-amerikansk identitet i USA
Part of Främlingar- ett historiskt perspektiv, Historiska inst, Uppsala, 1998
Five Decades of Transatlantic Research on Swedish Emigration to North America
Part of Language Contact Across the Atlantic, p. 185-197, Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag, 1996
Inte bara McDonald's.Amerika i Europa - och i Sverige
Part of Att förstå Europa- mångfald och sammanhang, p. 213-224, Uppsala: Uppsala universitet, 1996
Teaching Swedes in America to be Swedish. Educational Endeavors in the Augustana Synod
Part of Scandinavian immigrants and education in North America, Chicago: Swedish-American Historical Society, 1995
Becoming Multicultural? The Development of a Swedish Immigrant Policy
Part of Welfare States in Trouble. Historical Perspectives on Canada and Sweden, p. 57-70, Umeå: Acta Universitatis Umensis, 1995
Intermarriage and the Melting Pot in Moline, 1910
Part of Swedes in America. Intercultural and Interethnic Perspectives on Contemporary Research, 1993
Swedish Americans and the 1893 Columbian Exposition
Part of Swedish-American life in Chicago, University of Illinois Press, Urbana, Illinois, 1992
Collections (editor)
Swedish-American Borderlands: New Histories of Transatlantic Relations
University of Minnesota Press, 2021
Norwegians and Swedes in the United States: Friends and Neighbors
Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012
Scandinavians in Old and New Lands.: Essays in Honor of H. Arnold Barton
Swedish-American Historical Society, 2004
Scandinavians in Old and New Lands: Essays in Honor of H. Arnold Barton
Swedish-American Historical Society, Chicago, 2004
Notions of America: Swedish Perspectives
Södertörns högskola, 2004
Scandinavians in old and new lands: Essays in Honor of H. Arnold Barton
Swedish-American Historical Society, 2004, 2004
On and beyond the Mississippi: Essays honoring Thomas Tredway
Augustana Historical Society, Rock Island, Illinois, 2004
Swedes in the Twin Cities: immigrant life and Minnesota's urban frontier
Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2001
Migration och mångfald: essäer om kulturkontakt och minoritetsfrågor tillägnade Harald Runblom
Uppsala universitet, Centrum för multietnisk forskning, 1999
Scandinavian Immigrants and Education in North America
Chicago: Swedish-American Historical Society, 1995
Swedish-American Life in Chicago: Social and Cultural Aspects of an Immigrant People 1850–1930
Unversity of Illinois Press, Urbana, Illinois, 1992
Swedish-American life in Chicago: cultural and urban aspects of an immigrant people, 1850-1930
Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 1991
Swedish life in American cities
Uppsala University, 1991
Scandinavia overseas: patterns of cultural transformation in North America and Australia
Uppsala University, 1990
University of Illininois Press, Urbana, Illinois, 1990
Conference papers
Monograph doctoral thesis
Other
Pole Raising and Speech Making: Modalities of Swedish American Summer Celebration
Part of Scandinavian Studies, p. 464-466, 2016
Pole Raising and Speech Making: Modalities of Swedish American Summer Celebration
Part of Scandinavian Studies, p. 464-466, 2016
Part of Scandia, p. 121-122, 2009
Part of Historisk Tidskrift, p. 316-321, 2005
Part of American Studies in Scandinavia, p. 105-106, 1998