Holger Weiss

Holger Weiss is Professor of General History at Åbo Akademi University, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities, Psychology and Theology, Department of Culture, History and Philosophy. He holds associate professorships at the University of Helsinki (African History) and Aarhus University (Global History), and has held visiting positions at Dalarna University, Munich Centre for Global History, and the University of Gothenburg, where he is now an affiliated professor.

His research focuses on global history, African history, and Atlantic world interactions, with specialized interests in environmental and social history in West Africa, Islamic economics, transatlantic commodity chains, and global left-wing radical networks. His work integrates labor history, postcolonial studies, and economic anthropology.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend in analyzing transnational networks—from antifascist maritime labor mobilizations to Muslim NGOs in Ghana and the Red Black Atlantic. His interdisciplinary approach bridges historical analysis with themes of integration, exclusion, and social resilience.

Scientific Recognition and Affiliations:

• Member, Finnish Society of Sciences
• Ongoing projects funded by foundations and research councils
• Active international collaboration across Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic world

Advising and Grants: Weiss has supervised multiple doctoral and research projects. He leads significant research initiatives such as Muslim Empowerment in Ghana (MEG) and Radikala sjötransportarbetare och deras mobilisering, funded by external foundations. He regularly serves as examiner and peer reviewer, including for institutions like Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Labs and Research Teams: He is embedded in global research networks, particularly in global history and African studies, collaborating with institutions in Ghana, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark. His work is supported by interdisciplinary teams focusing on historical networks, labor movements, and religious civil society.