Lars Berge

Lars Berge is a Senior Lecturer in History and Religion at Dalarna University, affiliated with the School of Culture and Society. He holds dual roles as Programme Director for the Master Programme in African Studies (HAFSA) and One-Year Master Programme in African Studies (HAFRA), alongside coordinating multiple African Studies courses including research methodologies and thematic subjects like Urban Spaces in Africa and Religion/Politics dynamics. His research focuses on colonial and post-colonial African history, particularly Ethiopian experiences under Swedish missionary influences, and the interplay between education systems, nationalism, and modernization ideals in colonial contexts.

Key research interests include: missionary historiography, colonial education policies, and the socio-political impacts of egalitarian ideals propagated through missionary networks. Berge has contributed chapters to volumes such as Africa as Method (Springer, 2024) and Narratives of education in times of colonization and decolonization in Africa (Brill, 2023), alongside conference presentations on Scandinavian colonial discourses and cultural transfers.

His work bridges local African agency with transnational historical processes, examining how missionary activities shaped educational systems and identity formations in Ethiopia and southern Africa. Despite no explicitly listed awards, his prolific publication record (17+ works) indicates sustained academic contribution. Teaching responsibilities include guiding students through research proposal development, African economic dynamics, and thesis supervision in African Studies programs.