Frank Aarebrot
Frank Aarebrot | |
---|---|
Haukeland sykehus, Bergen , Norway | |
Nationality | Norwegian |
Title | First amanuensis (1977-2001) Professor (2001-17) |
Spouse |
Marian Flick
(m. 1977; died 2017) |
Academic background | |
Education | Cand.polit. in comparative politics |
Alma mater | University of Bergen University of Michigan |
Academic work | |
Discipline | Professor of comparative politics |
Institutions | University of Bergen |
Main interests | Comparative politics, elections, political history, democracy development |
Frank Henrik Aarebrot (19 January 1947 – 9 September 2017) was a
Among the most quoted and popular academics in the Norwegian press, he became better known during his later years for his televised "marathon lectures" and his recurring role in coverage of national and international elections on Norwegian television.Biography
Early life and education
Aarebrot was born in Bergen on 19 January 1947, the only child of civil engineer Knut Aarebrot (1911–84) and housewife Borgny Hansen (1912-2003), and grew up in the working class area of Kronstad outside Bergen. After finishing his
Aarebrot became a member of the
Academic career
From 1977 to his retirement in 2017, Aarebrot was employed by the Institute of Comparative Politics at the University of Bergen. In addition, he regularly lectured at
Media career
In the late 1980s, Aarebrot began working as a freelance observer for NRK, covering elections in Europe and the US. While covering the presidential elections of Romania in 1990, Aarebrot was infected with a skeletal disease that later resulted in amputation. Despite his, he continued working with the broadcaster until his death, and had a recurring role in coverage of elections until 2017.[2]
Despite his education and academic background, Aarebrot became better known to modern audiences following his many appearances outside the news. In 2004, together with Norwegian
Having studied in the United States and lived there for several years, Aarebrot was particularly interested in the politics of the country, and made frequent visits until his death. During the last decade of his career, he often featured in election coverage on Norwegian television, and wrote several articles on the presidential candidates and American politics in general. In one of his later, and more controversial articles, he compared then-candidate Donald Trump with Adolf Hitler, drawing parallels between the rhetoric and wording used by Trump during his campaign and by Hitler during his rise to power prior to 1933.[5] When Trump later won the nomination, and subsequent election, Aarebrot referred to the result as "frightening" and expressed worry for the American democracy.[6]
In 2014, Aarebrot gave a televised lecture on Norwegian history from 1814 to 2014 in celebration of the 200-year anniversary of the
Personal life
Aarebrot married Dutch political scientist Marian Flick in 1977, and they remained married until his death. They had two children together.
After contracting an infection in his left leg while covering the presidential elections of Romania in 1990, Aarebrot was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a disease of the bones in his leg, which was aggravated by lifelong smoking habit.[9] In 2003, the leg was amputated below the knee, which Aarebrot himself called "a relief". He later used a prosthesis and occasionally crutches or a wheelchair.[10]
Death
On 4 September 2017, Aarebrot was admitted to
Bibliography
- Frank Aarebrot and Pål Bakka: “Die Vergleichende Methode in der Politikwissenschaft“ i Dirk Berg-Schlosser and Ferdinand Müller-Rommel (red.): Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft, 4. utgave, (2006)
- Joakim Ekman, Henri Vogt, Frank Aarebrot and Sten Berglund: The Making Of The European Union: Foundations, Institutions and Future Trends (2006)
- Sten Berglund, Joakim Ekman and Frank Aarebrot (red.): The Handbook of political change in Eastern Europe 2. utgave (2004)
- Sten Berglund, Frank Aarebrot, Henri Vogt and Georgi Karasimeonov: Challenges to democracy : Eastern Europe ten years after the collapse of communism (2001)
- Frank Aarebrot and Terje Knutsen: Politics and Citizenship on the Eastern Baltic Seaboard. The structuring of Democratic Politics from North-West Russia to Poland (2000)
- Sten Berglund and Frank Aarebrot: The Political History of Eastern Europe in the 20th Century. The Struggle Between Dictatorship and Democracy (1997)
References
- ^ a b c Søilen, Oddmund. "Frank Aarebrot". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ Stangeland, Silje (15 February 2008). "Roland mest siterte UiS-professor i 2007" (in Norwegian). University of Stavanger. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ NRK.no
- ^ TV2.no
- ^ NRK election coverage, November 6, 2017
- ^ NRK.no
- ^ Forsking.no
- ^ Lommelegen.no
- ^ VG.no
- ^ "VG Direkte: Nyhetsdøgnet". VG Direkte (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2017-09-09.
- ^ NRK. "Frank Aarebrot er død". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2017-09-09.
External links
- Profile on the website of University of Bergen