What is the history of education? The history and future of a research field

Abstract

In this inaugural lecture, I present an overview of the development of this research field on the international as well as national, Swedish level. After delineating the research object of educational history, I begin by sketching the transition from an older tradition of educational history, often labelled history of educational thought, to what is often referred to as the new (or revisionist) history of education. Thereafter, I discuss the state of the art of Swedish educational history at the turn of the millennium within an international context. To conclude, this lecture discusses the relationship between educational history and the discipline of education (pedagogik) in Sweden and provides suggestions for future strands of research.