Christine Smith-Simonsen

Christine Smith-Simonsen is an Associate Professor in History at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, holding a joint position between the Department of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology and the Centre for Peace Studies. Her work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary peace and conflict issues, particularly in the Arctic and African contexts.

Her research spans several key areas: Peace Studies, African History (especially Eritrea and Ethiopia), Migration, Post-Colonialism, and the History of the Finnmark Race. She examines how historical narratives shape current peace processes, migration patterns, and cultural identities, with a focus on indigenous perspectives and gender.

Smith-Simonsen's recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on the cultural and social dimensions of peacebuilding and sports history. Her work on the Finnmark Race illustrates how a local dog sledding event evolved into a regional cultural phenomenon, while her research on African conflicts and peace initiatives provides critical insights into North-South relations and aid effectiveness.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Fritt Ord scholarship (2014)

She actively contributes to academic governance, serving on the Program Board for the Master's Program in Peace and Conflict Transformation and as UiT representative for NIAS. Her involvement in research groups such as War and Peace Dynamics and PrePast underscores her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration on historical and contemporary peace issues.

Smith-Simonsen is a key member of several research initiatives including the War and Peace Dynamics group, the PrePast project (The Presence of the Past), and the PEACE and WarPeD consortia, which explore historical memory, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding in the Arctic and beyond.