Jonathan Jonsson

Jonathan Jonsson is a Doctoral Research Fellow in Middle East Studies at the University of Oslo, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities. His work focuses on Arabic literature, the history of philosophy, and Palestinian exile literature. He holds dual Master's degrees in Asia and Middle East Studies (University of Oslo) and Philosophy (University of Umeå), alongside a Bachelor's in both fields. Fluent in Swedish, Norwegian, English, and advanced Modern Standard Arabic, his research bridges classical and contemporary thought.

Education

• 2020–2022: Master's in Asia and Middle East Studies (University of Oslo), focusing on Arabic literature and exile studies
• 2016–2020: Bachelor's in Asia and Middle East Studies (University of Oslo)
• 2018–2021: Bachelor's in Philosophy (University of Umeå)

Research Interests

Jonsson explores moral theory in 19th-century Arabic literature, specifically analyzing Salīm al-Bustānī’s works. He examines Palestinian displacement narratives through Mahmoud Darwish and Mourid Barghouti’s writings, employing phenomenological and digital humanities methods. His work critiques Eurocentric historiography of Arabic literature.

Recent Work Trends

His articles emphasize emotional analysis in Arabic novels, digital text modeling of Nahḍa-era texts, and the intersection of exile and spatial poetics in modern Arabic poetry. Collaborations with scholars like Stephan Guth highlight interdisciplinary approaches.

Grants & Projects

• Research Assistant roles at University of Oslo and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
• Participated in the IMPECT project (transcription/translation of Arabic interviews)
• Contributed to the Cross-Points and global:disconnect academic conferences

Labs & Teams

He collaborates with the Centre for Islamic and Middle East Studies and the Creativity and Crises research group, applying machine learning to literary analysis.