Mikael Börjesson: ”Humaniora under omställning: Humanistisk kunskap inför framtiden”

Abstract:

Over the past twenty years, the humanities in Sweden have undergone important transformations, now characterised by new and more intensified collaborations both within disciplinary boundaries and beyond. In this context, the project “Humanities in transition” aims to explore the humanities research landscape in Sweden in order to produce a stock of knowledge about the field. In our work, we systematically map the recent changes in patterns of publishing and external project funding in the Swedish humanities from the early 2000s to the present. With data from Swepub, the study traces trends in publication formats, language, and co-authorship, with a special focus on multi- and interdisciplinary production over time. We also look at external funding with data from not only Sweden’s major research funding bodies, but also several smaller funders to investigate the diversity of subjects that are granted funding in the humanities, with a focus on interdisciplinary project environments and collaborations. This mapping offers a data-informed entry point into discussions about the evolving role and shape of the humanities in Sweden, inviting reflections on how humanistic knowledge continues to develop and what challenges these changes may pose.