In memory of Olof Kleberg (1938–2025)

Peter Wallensteen remembers Olof Kleberg, who played a major role at the department in the 1970s.

Former editor-in-chief Olof Kleberg, Stockholm, passed away on 30 December 2025 at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife Anna-Karin Lundin and their two children and their families.

Olof Kleberg grew up in Uppsala as the son of the chief librarian at Carolina Rediviva, Tönnes Kleberg, and his Danish wife. From his home, he brought with him an interest in literature and Nordic issues, as well as a commitment to language and research.

When the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia in August 1968 to stop the Prague Spring, Olof was working as a Swedish lecturer in Bratislava. He was able to follow the civilian resistance at close quarters, which included talking directly to Russian soldiers and removing street signs to hinder their movements.

Back in Uppsala, Olof became involved in the burgeoning peace research at Uppsala University, describing various forms of non-military resistance. He became the leader of a project on civil resistance.

This work was put on hold in 1973 when the government presented a bill for a constitutional amendment that would, among other things, allow human rights to be restricted by a simple parliamentary decision. Olof contributed to a petition demanding that such rights could only be restricted by two parliamentary decisions with an election in between. If, for example, a foreign power demanded a ban on demonstrations against that state, the Swedish government would thereby be in a stronger position than during the Second World War.

The appeal was supported by Vice-Chancellor Torgny Segerstedt and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Martin H:son Holmdahl. In a short time, it was signed by half of all the university's teachers, a unique manifestation of human rights. The appeal was noted in the media and submitted to the Constitutional Committee. Its proposals are still valid today.

Olof Kleberg continued to be committed to peace, international issues and research as an editorial writer for Dagens Nyheter, long-time editor-in-chief of Västerbottens-Kuriren in Umeå and as an independent commentator on national and international issues in a true liberal spirit. Appropriately, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Umeå University in 2025.

A final contribution from him – as incisive as ever – was published in Frisinnad Tidskrift shortly before Christmas 2025, which turned out to be a few days before his passing.

A strong voice for freedom, peace and justice has fallen silent.

Peter Wallensteen
Professor Emeritus,
Peace and Conflict Research,
Uppsala University