Sophy Bergenheim

Description of research and teaching

I am a historian with a background in the history of society and social sciences. I received my doctorate (D.Soc.Sci.) in political history from the University of Helsinki in 2020. I am currently working as a postdoctoral researcher in economic and social history at the University of Helsinki, as a member of the Academy project ‘Nordic Fiscal States from the 16^th to the 21^st Centuries – Transitions from Warfare to Welfare States’ led by Professor Jari Eloranta. I am also affiliated with the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ).

I am specialised in welfare state history, particularly the Finnish and Nordic welfare states, as well as Nordic state/society relationships and corporatist traditions. In terms of theoretical orientation, I am interested in the interrelated histories of knowledge, ideas and concepts; not only in terms of academic expertise and verbal (textual) concepts, but different forms and arenas of knowledge, as well as visual and material dimensions of concepts and ideas.

I am fascinated by the complex gestalt of society and the welfare state, which is reflected in my wide range of research interests as well as my methodological versatility. My research topics include, among others, the history of social and health policy, history of medicine, urban history and housing policy, and gender and reproductive history. I have studied these topics through a variety of sources, from archival materials and government documents to news materials and other published sources.