Welfare under scrutiny: Precarious life in contemporary Norwegian literature
The project examines what literature tells us about people living in precarity, about the relationship between characters depicted “on the margins” and various welfare institutions, and what literary texts can tell us about the concept of welfare.
About the research project
Norwegian contemporary literature contains many depictions of people in precarious situations. We can read about mothers without social networks, young adults in temporary jobs, youths on the verge of becoming criminals, and children with ill parents. Depictions of vulnerable individuals appear in everything from novels and short prose to comics and crime fiction intended for adults, young people, and children. The literary characters we explore often share a loose affinity to the working life, they lack social integration and are sceptical of welfare-state institutions such as the police, school, and child welfare services. In the project we ask:
- What does literature tell us about precarious life? What challenges do authors imagine that people living on the margins of society face?
- How does literature portray the relationship between the characters and various welfare institutions, and how does it explain that many characters hesitate to accept help from state institutions?
- What understanding of welfare is expressed in the texts?
The main method in the project is literary analysis, and the project is theoretically grounded in moral philosophy inspired by ordinary language philosophy. By discussing literary portrayals of the interaction between people in precarity and representatives and structures of the welfare state, the project supplements existing sociological and anthropological welfare research. Reading contemporary literature provides insight into the complexity of precarious life in Norway today, while fictional texts take part in negotiations about what is meant by welfare. The goal is to strengthen the understanding of the challenges people living in precarious life situations face and to discuss which expectations of welfare and "the good life" are shared by people living in Norway today.
Genres and authors
The project brings together many different genres and authors:
We are a group of literary scholars with different backgrounds but a shared interest in precarious life in literature.
- Project leader Christine Hamm (University of Bergen) has previously researched Nordic literature written by women. She has published articles and books on topics such as marriage, motherhood, class mobility, ordinary language philosophy, and literary theory. Christine Hamm | UiB
- Ingrid Nestås Mathisen (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) is a researcher of working-class literature and has written a dissertation on Nini Roll Anker and Kristofer Uppdal. She has also published articles and anthologies on children's literature, humor, and depictions of the precariat. Ingrid Nestås Mathisen - Høgskulen på Vestlandet (external link)
- Elin Stengrundet (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) focuses on depictions of class in children's and young adult literature and political texts. She has previously published articles and books on Henrik Wergeland's authorship. Elin Stengrundet - Høgskulen på Vestlandet (external link)
- Magnus Nilsson (Malmö University) is a researcher of working-class literature. He has published several books in the field, including books on the relationship between migration literature and depictions of class, on European workers' literature, and on depictions of precarious labor. Magnus Nilsson | Malmö universitet (external link)
- Nicklas Freisleben Lund (University of Southern Denmark) explores themes such as inequality, marginalization, and the labor sphere in literature. He has published articles and books on topics such as strikes, aging, and (post-)welfare-state literature. Nicklas Freisleben Lund - Syddansk Universitet (external link)
We are happy to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines and participate in conferences, public events, and give lectures for students and others interested.
Work packages
The project consists of four work packages that will shed light on various precarious groups. Dividing the "precariat" into these groups also makes it possible to examine how categories such as gender, age, and ethnicity influence processes related to precarisation and the Norwegian welfare state.
- "Precarious mothers", led by Christine Hamm. Other members: Nicklas Freisleben Lund (SDU) and a postdoctoral fellow (to be appointed).
- "Precarious male youth", led by Elin Stengrundet (HVL). Other members: Ingrid Mathisen (HVL), Nicklas Freisleben Lund (SDU), and a postdoctoral fellow (to be appointed).
- "Precarious children", led by Ingrid Nestås Mathisen (HVL). Other members: Magnus Nilsson (MU) and Elin Stengrundet (HVL).
- "Criminals in the welfare state", led by a postdoctoral fellow (to be appointed). Other members: Christine Hamm and Magnus Nilsson (MU).
Activities:
February 7, 2026: project leader Christine Hamm participates in the international literature festival in Bergen to discuss the development of the welfare state with Danish literature scholar Tue Andersen Nexø and historian Ola Innset from BI Norwegian Business School: https://www.litfestbergen.no/litfestbergen-2026/program/sviket-mot-velf… (external link)
April 23–24, 2026: we hold a kick-off seminar at the University of Bergen, bringing together selected representatives from other disciplines, including sociologist Susanne Ekman and anthropologist Halvard Vike, to discuss welfare, the welfare state, and welfare institutions. Program link (TBA).
October 21–23, 2026: we organize a conference at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences on the theme of children and class. This is the tenth conference of the Nordarb-network, devoted to the exploration of working-class literature in the Nordic countries.
People
Project manager
Christine Hamm Professor, PI and leader of WP1 “Precarious mothers”
Project members
Elin Stengrundet Associate Professor (HVL), leads WP2 “Precarious male youth”
Ingrid Nestås Mathisen Associate Professor (HVL), leads WP3 "Precarious children"
Magnus Nilsson Professor (Universitety of Malmö)
Nicklas Freisleben Lund Assistant Professor, PhD (Syddansk Universitet)
Contact
Please contact Professor Christine Hamm if you have questions related to the project.
- Emails
- christine.hamm@uib.no
