Scandinavian Studies in Germany

Abstract

Scandinavian Studies in Germany are usually conceived of as comparative literary and cultural studies, encompassing the historical and current spaces where Northern Germanic languages were or are spoken. The article focuses on the current situation of Medieval Scandinavian Studies—one of the three branches of the discipline—in the German-speaking area, explaining their comparatively strong institutional position as a result of the long and peculiar history of the research and its entanglements with political ideology. Against this background, an overview is presented of the present research projects, and current structural and political problems, as well as challenges for the future are discussed.

Scandinavian Studies in Germany with a Special Focus on the Position of Old and Modern Icelandic

“…2 For an overview of the history of the subject in general and at individual universities, see e.g., Henningsen and Pelka (1984) and Scheel (2022); Berlin: Hoffmann (2010); Bochum: Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2005); Bonn: Uecker (2011); Göttingen: Paul (1985) http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/91592.html (accessed on 17 August 2022); Greifswald: Friese (1993); Kiel: Walker (2017); Leipzig: Kößling (2003), Zernack (2013); München: Böldl and Kauko (2005); see also the following websites: Berlin: (Hube n.d.); Freiburg: (Behschnitt et al n.d.); Köln: (Baumgarten n.d.).…”