This text has been translated from Norwegian with the assistance of GPT UiO.
– What preoccupies you at the moment?
– I am completing a project where my doctoral thesis will be published as a book in the Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right series. At the same time, I am working on two chapters about right-wing extremism and democratic resilience for an edited academic book to be published by the Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX). Additionally, I occasionally undertake various dissemination assignments. Over the past few months, I've presented my research to the Adult Education Association, Support Group after August 10, and the police. These are tasks I find incredibly meaningful!
– If you were to explain to an eight-year-old what you are doing in three short sentences, what would you say?
– My job is about understanding why some people hate others because of how they look, what they believe in, or whom they choose to love. This might happen because they are tricked into believing that some people are better than others. I hope that the more we understand this, the better we will become at being friends and respecting each other.
– What motivates you in your job?
– I am greatly motivated by working with talented colleagues at C-REX who challenge, inspire, and support me! I research what unfortunately seems to be a perpetually relevant topic: right-wing extremism. I am motivated by the fact that knowledge production can be used to prevent people from embracing ideas that reject democracy and human rights. I am especially focused on communicating how racism and dehumanisation have destructive consequences for the freedom and lives of minorities affected. In addition to inspiring politically motivated violence and terrorism, such attitudes create fear and hinder democratic participation and engagement.
– If you were to become something different, what would it be?
– All my university degrees (at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels) are in sociology, so life is evidently good as a sociologist. In all the major projects I've undertaken, I've used ethnographic methods, so if I were to choose another discipline, it would likely be anthropology. I cannot guarantee a lifetime in academia, and I am open to using my skills in other sectors. For example, a stable and secure advisory position in the public sector would appeal to me!
– What do you do to completely unwind?
– I run (like many other people from Sandnes)! I've been an active member of various athletics clubs for almost twenty years, both as a participant and a volunteer. The inclusive values in sports mean a lot to me, especially endurance running, routine, and camaraderie. I think Murakami expresses it well in his book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: "I just run. I run in a void. Or maybe I should put it the other way: I run in order to acquire a void."