Research
Stefan Backius research focuses on deindustrialization, cultural activism, industrial and working class heritage as well as how individuals, groups and societies remember and use historical events.
He has a particular interest in consequences of the industrial crisis in the Swedish industrial region Bergslagen starting in the 1970s - how community decline, public memory and collective identification operates locally.
Researcher in the projects:
Changing places of work: a place-based approach for re-imagining work in fossil free industrial towns of the future. Financed by FORMAS/FORTE 2021-2024
Transformation, culture and identity in Storfors, a historical case study of a mill town in eastern Värmland [Omvandling, kultur och identitet i Storfors, en historisk fallstudie av en bruksort i östra Värmland.] Financed by Wettergrenstiftelsen 2024.
Research associate in DEPOT – Deindustrialization and the politics of our time. Financed by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada 2020-2028.
Teaching
Teaches history at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Collaboration
Chairman of Värmlands företagshistoria (Värmland Business History Association), which preserves and makes available a large part of Värmland's regional business historical archives.
Member of the board of Arkivcentrum Örebro län
Bio
Before and after his PhD he worked in popular education and with community based cultural activities. For several years, his work experience has varied, such as industrial work, musician and elected in local politics.
Since 2016, Stefan is a senior lecturer in history at Karlstad University in Sweden.
Related info
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1175-0125