Stein Kuhnle

Stein Kuhnle is a Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Bergen (Norway) and holds an Emeritus position at the Hertie School in Berlin. He also serves as an honorary professor at several institutions, including the University of Southern Denmark, Fudan University (Shanghai), and Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China). With a cand. polit. degree from the University of Bergen, he has taught there since 1982 and directed the Department of Comparative Politics for many years.

His research focuses on the comparative and historical development of welfare states and social policies, with a particular emphasis on Nordic welfare models and their global relevance. Key projects include the 'Sino-Nordic Welfare Research Network' (SNoW) and studies on labor migration in Norway and distributive justice in China. He has also contributed to the 'Nordic Welfare State' Centre of Excellence and authored numerous publications on welfare policy, globalization, and comparative politics.

Teaching spans institutions worldwide, including guest lectures at over 100 universities across 50 countries. His work emphasizes the sustainability of welfare systems and the evolution of social policies in Europe and Asia.

Despite no specific scientific awards listed, his extensive contributions to welfare state research are widely recognized. His advising includes supervision of over 40 master's theses at the Hertie School and numerous theses at the University of Bergen. Collaborations include the Nordic Centre at Fudan University and the SNoW network.