Klaus Petersen

Professor Klaus Petersen is a leading academic at the University of Southern Denmark, serving as Professor of History and Director of the Danish Center for Welfare Studies. His roles include Nordic Humanities Center (NHC) Chair in Humanities, DIAS Professor, and Center Director in Public Administration, Welfare and Politics. He holds a PhD and has held prestigious titles such as Knight's Cross of the Dannebrog Order (2019) and membership in Academia Europaea (2021).

His research focuses on welfare state history (Denmark/Nordic countries), including pension policy, family policy, immigration, transnational perspectives, and American influences on Danish social science. He also explores Cold War dynamics, labor history, and Danish Modern furniture through collaborative projects with Copenhagen Business School.

Recent publications analyze neoliberal family-state relations in Scandinavia (2025), Cold War impacts on welfare states (2024), and integration policy shifts (2024). He leads projects like the Danish Family Revolution (FREI) and Citizen Science initiatives involving students in historical research. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary policy debates, emphasizing transnational and comparative frameworks.

Awards include the Svend Henning Prize (2013) and Danish Labour History Prize (2002). He teaches courses on welfare state history and methods, and collaborates internationally on projects like 'Americanization processes in Denmark.' His interdisciplinary approach integrates literature, public engagement, and policy critique, shaping discourse on Nordic social models.