Berge Furre
Encyclopedia
Berge Ragnar Furre is a Norwegian
historian
, theologian and politician
for the Socialist Left Party
.
in 1937 as the son of engineer Berge Bergesen Furre (1887–1952) and secretary Else Otilie Tjomsaas (1906–1993). He took primary education in Sjernarøy, Stavanger
and Oslo
, and finished his secondary education in Oslo in 1955. Later that year he enrolled at the University of Oslo
. In 1959 he became the leader of the Norwegian Students' Society. He was a member of the Labour Party
, but as the chairman of Sosialistisk Studentlag (1956–1957) he was central to the so-called "Easter Uprising" in 1958. He later left the Labour Party to found the Socialist People Party together with other prominent persons in the Easter Uprising, such as Finn Gustavsen
. He was the party secretary from 1961 to 1964.
Furre finally graduated with a cand.philol. degree in 1968. Already in 1967 he had been appointed as an editor of the Nynorsk
periodical Syn og Segn
; he was also a board member of the Nynorsk newspaper Dag og Tid
. In 1969 he became a research fellow
at NAVF. He left both the editor and research fellow position in 1971 to become an associate professor of history at the University of Tromsø
. He was also a member of the board of Noregs Mållag
from 1968 to 1969, and vice chairman from 1969 to 1970. From 1971 to 1972 he was a board member of Folkebevegelsen mot EF.
. During this term he chaired the Standing Committee on Agriculture, and was a member of the Election Committee and the Enlarged Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was the party leader from 1976 to 1983, having formerly been a central committee member in 1961–1964 and 1969–1971 and then deputy leader from 1971 to 1976.
, Mellomkirkelig råd and the Church of Norway Council on International Relations. Furre became a professor of church history at the University of Oslo
in 1991. He was also a board member of Church City Mission
from 1992 to 2000. He was ordained a priest in 1998, 42 years after he had started his theological education. He retired in 2007, and is currently a professor emeritus.
He was also a member of the Lund commission 1994–1996. During this period, Furre himself was secretly investigated; when this came to light, it prompted the previous Minister of Justice and the Police
Grete Faremo
to resign from her then post of Minister of Energy.
Furre became a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
in 1998, and has been a member of the international committee of the Norwegian Agrarian Association
from 2000. From 2003 to 2009 he was a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
. He has also been the deputy chair of Det Norske Teatret
from 1986 to 1997 and chair
from 1997 to 2004.
and university colleges
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, theologian and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
for the Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
.
Early life and career
Furre was born in SjernarøySjernarøy
Sjernarøy is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway.Sjernarøy was separated from Nedstrand January 1, 1868. At that point Sjernarøy had 922 inhabitants....
in 1937 as the son of engineer Berge Bergesen Furre (1887–1952) and secretary Else Otilie Tjomsaas (1906–1993). He took primary education in Sjernarøy, Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and finished his secondary education in Oslo in 1955. Later that year he enrolled at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. In 1959 he became the leader of the Norwegian Students' Society. He was a member of the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
, but as the chairman of Sosialistisk Studentlag (1956–1957) he was central to the so-called "Easter Uprising" in 1958. He later left the Labour Party to found the Socialist People Party together with other prominent persons in the Easter Uprising, such as Finn Gustavsen
Finn Gustavsen
Finn Gustavsen was a Norwegian socialist politician active from 1945 to the late 1970s. He was noted for his uncompromising style and willingness to take contrarian stands....
. He was the party secretary from 1961 to 1964.
Furre finally graduated with a cand.philol. degree in 1968. Already in 1967 he had been appointed as an editor of the Nynorsk
Nynorsk
Nynorsk or New Norwegian is one of two official written standards for the Norwegian language, the other being Bokmål. The standard language was created by Ivar Aasen during the mid-19th century, to provide a Norwegian alternative to the Danish language which was commonly written in Norway at the...
periodical Syn og Segn
Syn og Segn
Syn og Segn is a Norwegian cultural and political magazine. It was founded in 1894, and Rasmus Flo and Arne Garborg were the magazine's first editors....
; he was also a board member of the Nynorsk newspaper Dag og Tid
Dag og Tid
Dag og Tid is a national weekly newspaper in Norway that uses the Nynorsk standard of the Norwegian language. The newspaper was founded in 1962, is politically independent but editorially radical and focuses on culture and politics. The current editor is Svein Gjerdåker. Its circulation is...
. In 1969 he became a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at NAVF. He left both the editor and research fellow position in 1971 to become an associate professor of history at the University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
. He was also a member of the board of Noregs Mållag
Noregs Mållag
Noregs Mållag is the main organisation for Norwegian Nynorsk , one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language. In the Norwegian language struggle, it advocates the use of Nynorsk...
from 1968 to 1969, and vice chairman from 1969 to 1970. From 1971 to 1972 he was a board member of Folkebevegelsen mot EF.
National politics
Furre was a member of the Norwegian Parliament for the Socialist Left Party from 1973 to 1977, representing the county RogalandRogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
. During this term he chaired the Standing Committee on Agriculture, and was a member of the Election Committee and the Enlarged Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was the party leader from 1976 to 1983, having formerly been a central committee member in 1961–1964 and 1969–1971 and then deputy leader from 1971 to 1976.
Academic career
Having left the University of Tromsø when elected to Parliament in 1973, he returned in 1975 as a lecturer. He held this position until 1985, when he was promoted to professor. However, he held this position for only one year. In 1986 he instead involved himself in Christian work. He held a number of positions: he was a member of Kirkemøtet, the Diocese Council of OsloDiocese of Oslo
Oslo bishopric is The Church of Norway's bishopric for the municipalities of Oslo, Asker and Bærum. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.-History:...
, Mellomkirkelig råd and the Church of Norway Council on International Relations. Furre became a professor of church history at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1991. He was also a board member of Church City Mission
Church City Mission
Church City Mission is a diaconal foundation in Norway doing social work within alcohol care, elderly care, child welfare, mental health care and among prostitutes - as well as religious activities with pastoral care, preaching and church work.Church City Mission was founded on January 22, 1855 by...
from 1992 to 2000. He was ordained a priest in 1998, 42 years after he had started his theological education. He retired in 2007, and is currently a professor emeritus.
He was also a member of the Lund commission 1994–1996. During this period, Furre himself was secretly investigated; when this came to light, it prompted the previous Minister of Justice and the Police
Minister of Justice and the Police (Norway)
In Norway, the Minister of Justice and the Police is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police and a member of Government of Norway. Current minister is Grete Faremo of the Norwegian Labour Party who is part of the second cabinet Stoltenberg...
Grete Faremo
Grete Faremo
Grete Faremo , is a Norwegian politician who serves as the Norwegian Minister of Justice and the Police in Norway....
to resign from her then post of Minister of Energy.
Furre became a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
in 1998, and has been a member of the international committee of the Norwegian Agrarian Association
Norwegian Agrarian Association
The Norwegian Agrarian Association is the largest Norwegian interest organization for farmers.It functions both as a labour union and as a trade union. It negotiates with the Norwegian Farmers and Smallholders Union and the Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion about agricultural...
from 2000. From 2003 to 2009 he was a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
. He has also been the deputy chair of Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret is a theatre in Oslo. The theatre was founded in 1912, after an initiative from Hulda Garborg and Edvard Drabløs. It opened in 1913, touring with two plays, Ervingen by Ivar Aasen and Rationelt Fjøsstell by Hulda Garborg...
from 1986 to 1997 and chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
from 1997 to 2004.
Publications
Furre has written a number of books, particularly on historical and political topics. Furre's book: Norsk historie 1905-1990: vårt hundreår, is used as a general introduction to Norwegian history at several universitiesUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and university colleges
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
.
- 1990 Soga om Lars Oftedal ISBN 82-521-3468-8 - about the clergyman Lars Oftedal
- 1992 Norsk historie 1905-1990 : vårt hundreår (History of Norway 1905-1990 : our century) ISBN 82-521-3487-4
- 2000 Norsk historie 1914-2000 Industrisamfunnet - frå vokstervisse til framtidstvil (History of Norway 1914-2000) ISBN 9788252151879