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Susanne Bygnes

Professor
  • E-mailSusanne.Bygnes@uib.no
  • Phone+47 55 58 97 32
  • Visitor Address
    Rosenbergsgaten 39
    5015 Bergen
    Room 
    319
  • Postal Address
    Postboks 7802
    5020 Bergen

Key words: Political sociology, social movements, protest movements, diversity, economic-crisis, refugee-crisis, social mobilisation, high-skilled migrants, politically motivated migrants

Susanne Bygnes is Professor of Sociology at the University of Bergen in Norway. Her main research topics include international migration and local perspectives on diversity, political sociology and social movements. Her recent work use 'crisis' as point of departure to understand social change through new migratory patterns and local community reactions to sudden increase in diversity. Since 2013 she has worked with two particular cases of human mobility in the wake of the European financial crisis and the subsequent 'refugee crisis' to understand how crisis shape both migrants' and 'recieving communities' imaginations, experiences and reactions. Methodologically she draws mainly on in-depth qualitative interviews, but also works with ethnography and quantitative panel data. 

She had visiting scholar status at Scoula Normale Superioire de Firenze (University of Pisa) October to November 2018 and has previosuly been visiting scholar at UC Berkeley (June-August 2012), Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (April-July 2014) and Sussex University (March-June 2015).

Bygnes was principal investigator for the project 'Imagining and Experiencing the Refugee crisis (IMEX)' (2017-2022).

Her most recent project is Russian migrants and the anti-war movement in Europe (2022-2025)

Russian Migrants and the anti-war movement (RAW)

This pilot project funded by the University of Bergen was initiated in September 2022. It explores the experiences and activities of Russian migrants in Europe who have mobilized for peace after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Based on observations and in-depth interviews, the project studies the Russian anti-war movement abroad focusing initially on two central (Berlin and Vilnius) and two more peripherical (Barcelona and Oslo) sites. In Berlin and Vilnius, mobilization for democracy in Russia has diversified and/or intensified in the wake of the invasion, while in Barcelona and Oslo the full-scale invasion has strengthened the emergence of Russian migrants mobilizing for a democratic development. The project also takes into account that the Russian anti-war movement abroad is highly transnational, spanning local initiatives and individuals across many locations, including initiatives inside Russia. The central research questions to be addressed by this project are:

Who are the Russians migrants who mobilize against the war and for a democratic development in Russia? What motivates and restricts their involvement? Does the political mobilization of Russian migrants against war that started in 2022 have bearings on the potential for building a stronger pro-democratic community of Russian migrants in Europe?

Susanne Bygnes also dessiminates actively in a range of foras outside the academic realm, ranging from local upper secondary schools and senior universities to governmental and NGO stakeholders and national newpapers, radio and TV.   

 

Selected public communication:

2022, Webinar for all local offices of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) presenting results from Imagining and Experiencing refugee crisis-project. January 2022

2022 Public Library tour. Public talks and discussions about the results from the Imagining and Experiencing refugee crisis-project in public libraries in Western Norway. January 2022

2021 Information Film Activism Across Time and Place: Syrians’ activist trajectories in Berlin and Oslo. December 2021

Radio Interview, EKKO, NRK P2 (27.11.2020) Life on hold at the asylum seeker center

Radio interview, Nyhetsmorgen NRK P2 (20.05.2019) and interview at nrk.no (21.05.2019) about national and local level perceptions about refugee arrivals and integration.

Interview Interview BT Junior (4.10.2017)

Interview NRK Nyhetsmorgen (2.10.2017)

Interview NRK Ytring (1.10.2017)

Interview Dagsnytt 18 (18.06.2017) 

Interview TV-documentary Mottaket NRK Nett-TV (publisert 26.07.2016)

Invited op-ed kommentarartikkel, BT (21.07.2016)

Interview, Dagsnytt 18 (21.12.15)

Interview, Ytring NRK P2 (20.12.15)

Interview, TV2 Nyhetkanalen (20.12.15)

Interview, NTB, gjengitt b.la i Nettavisen (20.12.15)

Interview, Aftenposten (16.12.15)

Interview, EKKO NRK P2 (7.12.15)

Op-ed BT "Vil forlate Synkende skip" (6.10.15)

"Disse fem flokene må katalanerne løse", Interview Aftenposten (28.09.15)

Interview  Bergensavisen 14.03.15

Myten om fattige Spanjoler i Norge. Interview, Her og Nå NRK P1 17. 04.13

Op-ed Har vi multikulturalisme? VG 7. mai 2012 s. 28-29

 

Course development and teaching 

Susanne Bygnes has been responsible for developing and teaching courses at the undergraduate level and teach/supervise at the graduate level and post-graduate level (Bergen Summer Research School). She is currently supervising two PhD-candidates (Amany Selim and Eli Melby) who take sociological appraoches to political participation and social movements. She has supervised many MA-students, three have been integrated into the IMEX-project: Kristine Wenaas' MA-thesis on local reactions to a new asylum center (2017), Evelyn Holmøys' thesis on 'Refugees welcome to the Arctic' (2017) and Nikolai Skogre Borge's (2020) thesis on social mobilization and boundary work in the wake of the refugee crisis. She has also supervised MA-thesises on young migrants' transitions to adulthood and the importance of place, gender and education lever for idntity formation of children of immigrants in Norway.

 

Courses

 

University pedagogy 30 ECTS completed in 2019

Momentum- University of Bergen's traning program for young reserach leaders completed in 2018

 

Academic article
  • Show author(s) (2022). Mobility dynamics within the settlement phase of Syrian refugees in Norway and The Netherlands. Mobilities.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Experiencing and resisting interwoven social boundaries: the case of highly educated recent refugees in Norway. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.
  • Show author(s) (2022). A Promise of Inclusion: On the Social Imaginary of Organised Encounters between Locals and Refugees. Journal of Intercultural Studies.
  • Show author(s) (2021). The Local-National Gap in Intergroup Attitudes and Far-Right Underperformance in Local Elections. Frontiers in Political Science. 1-11.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Local responses to hostility to new asylum seeker centres in Norway. International migration. 1-12.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Not All Syrian Doctors Become Taxi Drivers: Stagnation and Continutity Among Highly Educated Syrians in Norway. Journal of International Migration and Integration. 1-14.
  • Show author(s) (2019). A collective sigh of relief: Local reactions to the estbalishment of new asylum centres in Norway. . Acta Sociologica. 1-13.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Welcome to Norway! Da flyktningkrisa kom til Norge. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 286-301.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Are they leaving because of the crisis? The sociological significance of anomie as a motivation for migration. Sociology. 258-273.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Political motivations for intra-European migration. Acta Sociologica. 199-212.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Liquid migration, grounded lives: considerations about future mobility and settlement among Polish and Spanish migrants in Norway. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 102-118.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Mistillitens migrasjon: Europeisk sør-nord-mobilitet i kjølvannet av krisa. Sosiologisk Tidsskrift. 171-192.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Ambivalent Multiculturalism. Sociology. 126-141.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Gender-equality as boundary: 'Gender-nation frames' in Norwegian EU campaign organizations. The European Journal of Women's Studies. 7-22.
  • Show author(s) (2012). 'We are in compleete agreement' The Diversity issue, Disagreement and Change in the European Women's Lobby. Social Movement Studies.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Making equality diverse? merged gender equality and anti-discrimination measures in Norway. NORA - Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research. 88-104.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Interviewing People-oriented Elites. Eurosphere Working Papers.
Lecture
  • Show author(s) (2014). Introdusjon til "Interne grenser: Nye former for migrajsonskontroll".
Popular scientific lecture
  • Show author(s) (2018). Fredagssalongen #8: Fornuft og følelser.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Flyktningestrømmer’ til Norge: Folk og fenomen .
  • Show author(s) (2014). The Social Construction of Whiteness.
  • Show author(s) (2012). How to write an article based thesis.
Academic lecture
  • Show author(s) (2019). Hard-working, gender-equal and outdoorsy: contesting ‘refugeeness’ with transnational resources and local knowledge .
  • Show author(s) (2019). 'The Refugee Crisis’ and Its Aftermath: Understanding Local-National Dynamics .
  • Show author(s) (2018). Critical events and new trajectories: (re)-entering adulthood after seeking asylum in Norway .
  • Show author(s) (2018). Crisis and continuity: Norwegian local communities in the wake of the 'refugee crisis'.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Contact between asylum seekers and Norwegians. Welcome to the neighborhood?
  • Show author(s) (2014). Migrasjon fra Spania til Norge etter 2008.
  • Show author(s) (2014). High-skilled Spanish migration to Norway after 2008.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Did we leave because of the crisis?
  • Show author(s) (2012). Ambivalent Multiculturalism.
  • Show author(s) (2012). 'I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NOTION OF DIVERSITY'. ANALYZING SOCIAL MOVEMENT LEADERS' OPINIONS ON MULTIPLE EQUALITY CLAIMS.
  • Show author(s) (2011). I have a problem with the notion of diversity.
  • Show author(s) (2011). First and Foremost a Feminist: Social Movement Leaders' Framing of Multiple Equality Claims.
Editorial
  • Show author(s) (2017). Krise og kontinuitet i mottak av flyktninger i Norden. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning.
Book review
  • Show author(s) (2020). Jon Horgen Friberg: Konflikt, fellesskap og forandring. Foreldreskap og sosial kontroll i innvandrede familier fra Pakistan, Somalia og Sri Lanka. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 294-295.
  • Show author(s) (2020). "The Rule of Violence: Subjectivity, Memory and Government in Syria by Salwa Ismail". American Journal of Sociology.
Academic monograph
  • Show author(s) (2008). Questioning modernity and development.
Doctoral dissertation
  • Show author(s) (2013). Diversity Dilemmas. Majority approaches to societal diversity in Norway and Europe.
Interview
  • Show author(s) (2020). Livet på Vent på asylmottak. Intervju .
  • Show author(s) (2019). Fridtjof (73) fryktet «horden av unge menn». Det var før asylsøkerne kom til Lindås.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Ser ingen fremtid i Spania.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Den lange veien til Norge.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Multikulturalismens begravelsesagenter.
Programme management
  • Show author(s) (2012). Teorier og politikk: Fortellinger om multikulturalismens død.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
  • Show author(s) (2014). Ad hoc multiculturalism: Prison staff approaches to cultural and religious diversity. 18 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Dorothy E. Smith. 7 pages.

More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)

Publications:

Bygnes, S (2024) Resistance against the war among Russian migrants in Norway: moral shock and collective identity/Krigsmotstand blant russiske migranter i Norge: moralsk sjokk og kollektiv identitet. Forthcoming in Tidsskrift for Samfunnsforskning 2, 24.

Bygnes, S (2022) Experiencing and resisting interwoven social bouncaries: the case of highly educated recent refugees in Norway. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

van Limept, I and Bygnes, S (2022) Mobility dynamics within the settlement phase of Syrian refugees in Norway and The Netherlands. Mobilities

Bygnes, S and Strømsø, M (2022) A Promise of Inclusion: On the Social Imaginary of Organised Encounters Between Locals and Refugees. Journal of Intercultural Studies

Strømsø, M and Bygnes, S (2021) Local responses to hostility to new asylum seeker centres in Norway. International Migration.

Bye, HH., Bygnes, S and Ivarsflaten, I (2021) The Local-National Gap in Intergroup Attitudes and Far-Right Underperformance in Local Elections. Frontiers in Political Science. Open access.

Bygnes, S (2021) Not All Syrian Doctors Become Taxi Drivers: Stagnation and Continuity Among Highly Educated Syrians in Norway. Int. Migration & Integration  Available Open Access

Bygnes, S (2020) A collective sigh of relief: Local reactions to the establishment of new asylum centers in Norway. Acta Sociologica https://doi.org/10.1177/0001699319833143

Bygnes, S. (2017) Welcome to Norway! Tidsskrift for Velferdsforskning 4 2017. Available Open Access

Bygnes, S. (2017) Are They Leaving Because of the Crisis? The Sociological Significance of Anomie as a Motivation for Migration. Sociology. doi: 10.1177/0038038515589300

Bygnes, S and Erdal, M (2017) Liquid Migration, grounded lives: Considerations about future mobility and settlement among Polish and Spanish migrants in Norway. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. Available Open Access

Bygnes, S and Flipo, A (2016) Political Motivations for intra-European Migration. Acta Sociologica. Doi 10.117/0001699316659909. Available Open Access

Bygnes, S. (2015) Migrants of disillusion: European South-North Mobility in the wake of the crisis.//Mistillitens migrasjon: Europeisk sør-nord mobilitet i kjølvannet av krisa. Sosiologisk Tidsskrift nr 3 2015.

Bygnes, S (2014) Ad-hoc Multiculturalism: Prison staff approaches to cultural and religious diversity. In: Judicialization and Citizenship in the Welfare State. Sinding Aasen, H. etl al (eds). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Bygnes, S. (2013) Ambivalent Multiculturalism. Sociology, Volume 47, issue 1, pp. 126-141. Doi: 10.1177/0038038512448560

Bygnes, S. (2012) 'We are in Complete Agreement': The Diversity Issue, Disagreement and Change in The European Women's Lobby. Social Movement Studies. Doi:10.1080/14742837.2012.703831

Bygnes, S. (2012) Gender-equality as boundary: 'Gender-nation frames' in Norwegian EU campaign organizations. European Journal of Women's Studies 19(1): 7-22.

Bygnes, S. (2010) Making Equality Diverse? Merged Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Measures in Norway NORA Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research, 18 (2): 88-104.

Bygnes, S. (2008) Interviewing People-oriented Elites. Eurosphere Working Paper Series. Online Working paper no. 10, 2008 (fulltekst pdf)

 

Other peer-reviewed publications:

Bygnes, S (2013) Diversity dilemmas – majority approaches to societal diversity in Norway and Europe. PhD-dissertation, University of Bergen ISBN: 9788230821909

Bygnes, S. (2008): Dorothy E. Smith. In: Kjønnsteori. Gyldendal Akademisk 2008

Bygnes, S. (2008): Questioning modernity and development. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller 2008 (112 pages, published MA-thesis)

 

Editorial:

Bygnes, S and Karlsen, M-A (2017) Krise og Kontinuitet i mottak av flyktninger i Norden. Tidsskrift for Velferdsforskning 4, 2017

 

Book review:

Bygnes, S "The Rule of Violence: Subjectivity, Memory and Government in Syria by Salwa Ismail," American Journal of Sociology 125, no. 5 (March 2020): 1423-1424.

Bygnes, S. Krimmigrasjon? den nye kontrollen av de fremmede., Nordic Journal of Migration Research 2015 5(3): 155-156

Russian migrants and the anti-war movement in Europe. (2022-) Pilot study (PI: Bygnes)

Imagining and Experiencing the 'Refugee Crisis' (IMEX). Research Council of Norway: 1 million Euros (8 mill NOK). Frame: FRIPRO Young Reserach Talents. (2017-2022) PI: Bygnes

Labor Migration in Uncertain Times: Migration from Spain to Norway. Research Council of Norway: 3.500 000 NOK. VAM. Personal Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014-2018) PI: Bygnes

Claims-Making On Behalf Of Migrants In A Time Of Populism: Comparative Survey Experiments In Norway And California PIs: Kim Voss, Irene Bloemraad (both UC Berkeley), Elisabeth Ivarsflaten and Susanne Bygnes (both UiB), 15 000 USD, Peder Sather Grant Program (2017-2018). 

Flyktningekrisa: forestillinger og erfaringer. Pilotstudie finanisert av UiB og NFR. (2016). PI: Bygnes.

Appointments:

  • Board member International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER Bergen) 2014-
  • Committee member, best sociological paper award, Norwegian Sociological Association 2018-
  • Director, International Migration and Ethnic relations (IMER Bergen) Dec 2015-June 2017 
  • Head, academic committee, Nordic Migration Conference 2016
  • Head, Norsk Nettverk for Migrasjonsforskning 2014-2016
  • Board member Nordic Migration Research 2014-2016
  • Medlem av Forskerutdanningsforum 2011-2012
  • Medlem av styret for det samfunnsvitenskapelige fakultet 2009-2010
  • Styremedlem i Sosiologiforeningen, Avdeling Vestlandet 2009-2010

 

Opponent, PhD defence:

Nessa, Benedicte"Navigating Exepctations: concurrent processes of Inlcusiona dn Exclusion in reugfees' (Dis)Integration into the Norwegian Labour Market. VID Specialized University, Ocotber 2023.

Aydin, Seda: "Political socialisation processes of return migrants. The case of Turkish returnees from Germany". Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, December 2019

 

Reviewer for :

American Journal of Sociology

The Sociological Review

Sociological Forum

International Journal of Comparative Sociology

Population, Space and Place

Mobilities

Journal of Youth Studies

Canadian Studies in Population

Social Movement Studies

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS)

International Migration Reivew

Refugee Survey Quarterly

Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies

Journal of Refugee Studies

Comparative Migration Studies

Migration Studies

International Migration

Tijdschrift voor Economische en Social Geografie

Nordic Journal of Migration Studies