Research Assistant: How is the Past Used in Political Campaigns

Introduction to the topic:

“Every vision of the future is a response to where we come from and how we got to where we are today”

The research project PastForward explores how Nordic politicians use and strategically frame the past in accordance with their future visions. The project contributes a new perspective by not only identifying the strategic uses of the past for legitimizing imaginations of the future, but also by analyzing how the past plays into concrete policy suggestions. The project will further increase attention about digital discourses on social media. since they have become influential sites of political negotiation in contemporary democracies.

The project aims to create a useful knowledge base for citizens and policymakers about the negotiation of nationhood and how it constitutes a national imagined community.

On a societal level, we aim to create awareness of the power the past wields in political communication, and to increase our knowledge of the past’s impact on social cohesion when it is employed to increase inclusion or foster outgroup mentalities. The project highlights the plethora of historical references and collective memories that circulate in society, which add to a sense of shared identity and are the origin of what societies deem important and valuable, hence, worthy to include in imaginations of the future.

PastForward is a collaborative research project running from 2023 to 2026, funded by NordForsk through NOS-HS Project Grants. It is conducted in partnership between four Nordic universities: the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), OsloMet University (Norway), the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), and Umeå University (Sweden).

Project details:

As a Research Assistant working with PastForward, you will contribute to an examination of how the past is used politically in Nordic social media campaigns (Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland).

You will gain insights into how a collaborative, transnational research project works, and you will get concrete experience with data collection, coding, and qualitative analysis. There is also a possibility to frame your own small, parallel research project within the same theoretical framework (e.g. a focused case study on political social media communication in the United States).

The specific content of your contribution will be agreed upon in an interview conducted before your semester starts, depending on your prior skills and interests. While achieving publishable results within the DIS semester timeframe is unlikely, exceptional Research Assistants might be considered co-authorship in some of our commonly written articles. Since the project will run over multiple semesters, you will not participate in all phases of research, but you will inevitably contribute to the overall project and receive a letter of recommendation based on your engagement.

Selected relevant publications:

Menke, M. (2024, April 12). How is the past used in political campaigns? Nordic researchers investigate politicians’ strategic use of history. NordForsk. https://www.nordforsk.org/news/how-past-used-political-campaigns-nordic-researchers-investigate-politicians-strategic-use
Bennett, W. L., & Pfetsch, B. (2018). Rethinking political communication in a time of disrupted public spheres. Journal of Communication, 68(2), 243–253. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqx017
Hoskins, A. (Ed.). (2017). Digital memory studies: Media pasts in transition. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315637235

Recommended experience

Interest in and/or familiarity with political communication, as well as a basic understanding of cultural, qualitative analysis.

Additional research application required

You will need to submit an additional research application through Student Registration in order to enroll in this course.

To submit your research application, you must already be admitted to DIS.

All research application materials must be submitted on the following dates by 23:59 Central European Time:

November 1 for spring semester applicants
May 1 for fall semester applicants

Complete your additional research application through Student Registration.

If you are not already enrolled, use this link to apply to DIS before completing a research application.

Syllabus

The syllabus for this course is currently under development. A draft syllabus will be posted here as soon as it is available.

Faculty

Marie Meier

Faculty; Academic Coordinator

Ph.D. (History of Experience, University of Copenhagen, 2022). Visiting Scholar (Max Planck Institute Berlin, Center for the History of Emotions, 2020). Master in Second Language Acquisition (The Danish School of Education, 2013). M.A. (Angewandte Literaturwissenschaft, Freie Universität Berlin, 2007), B.A. (Comparative Literature and Modern Culture Studies, University of Copenhagen, 2004). Language instructor, Copenhagen Language Center, 2009-2018. Podcast producer, CBS, Department of Leadership, Politics and Philosophy, 2009. Scientific Assistant, The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2022) Science editor, Eftertryk, 2021-present. With DIS since 2022.

Research Assistantship FAQ

Learn more about research at DIS.

: Earning authorship within the course of a semester is challenging. Exceptional Research Assistants may be considered for co-authorship, subject to evaluation from the supervising Research Mentor.

Though you may not ultimately become an author on a published paper, you will gain many practical skills and insights into the publication process.

: Many research projects last across several semesters, so not all RAs on the same project will conduct the same research.

: On average, students in 3-credit Research Assistantships spend at least 10 hours a week on research tasks. These 10 hours per week consist of a variety of different research-related tasks, including conducting a literature review, data collection, analyses, coding, documentation, and meetings with your mentor. You may decide on a particular block of time (consistent each week) for you to carry out the work, or adjust it on a week-by-week basis.

Students in a 6-credit Research Assistantships spend an average of 20 hours per week with lab and clinically based research tasks. You decide the exact meeting and lab times with your supervisor, but your schedule consists of classes at DIS two days a week, with two days a week in the lab.

There may be peak times in the research process where all Research Assistant students are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly fewer hours another week – to reflect the individual research project and process.

: Work for the 3-credit Research Assistantships may take place outside DIS, on your own time at a location of your choosing, or at DIS – this varies from project to project. The 6-credit research assistantships generally take place at labs in Copenhagen or Stockholm outside DIS.

: Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the 3-credit Research Assistant course. While some courses do have prerequisites, many opportunities do not require prior research experience.

The 6-credit Research Assistant opportunity is designed for highly motivated students who have a strong science background within the field of interest and some basic research experience. The student must be willing to commit a large portion of their semester to an engaging opportunity involving hands-on research in universities and medical institutes in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

Introduction to the topic:

Project details:

Recommended experience

Additional research application required

Syllabus

The syllabus for this course is currently under development. A draft syllabus will be posted here as soon as it is available.

Faculty

Marie Meier

Research Assistantship FAQ

Will I publish a research paper?

What exactly will I do?

What is the time commitment for a 3-credit or 6-credit Research Assistantship?

Where is the research work carried out?

What type of student applies for the 3- and 6-credit Research Assistant courses?