| dc.description.abstract | Abstract:
Over the last 20-25 years there has been done a lot of research on the issue of use of history resulting in numerous books, articles and master thesis. Surprisingly few of them have studied the use of history in new-years speeches performed by prime ministers, but research state that politicians use history in their communication with their audience. Knowing this and also being aware of the fact that international research in comparative politics, up until approximately year 2000, find similarities between Nordic countries far more interesting than their differences, makes this a good starting point to study any possible differences and similarities between the countries the in the period 2000-2021.
Using new-years speeches as my source I hope to both fill any open gaps in the research field and add nuanced knowledge to existing results. My research question will be as follows:
How do prime ministers in Norway and Denmark use history in their new-years speeches in the period between 2000-2021? What are the similarities and differences between the two countries?
Analyzing my sources I will use the theory on historical culture presented by Peter Aronsson, Klas-Göran Karlssons typology on the use of history and the typology Jörn Rüsen presented on the functions of historical narratives. I will use qualitative method to structure any information gathered from the sources according to a main narrative and side narratives before I go on with the comparative analysis.
My analysis confirm the similarities to be most significant. Both between different political parties within each country, but also surprisingly to a high degree between social democrats in Norway and conservatives in Denmark. The most interesting difference is the significant use of existential use of history in Denmark in interconnection with the exemplary- and traditional narrative. Furthermore, using Rüsens typology of historical narration in relation to side narratives, main narrative and master narrative made it possible to use the typology in similar way as is the strength of Karlssons typology: the different types may overlap each other or work simultaneously enabling to strengthen or weaken each other, and it in in these crossroads the most interesting findings may take place. | |
