Prof. H.G.J. Kaal (Harm)

Harm Kaal is a historian of contemporary political history. His research gravitates around three themes.

First, research on perceptions and imaginations of democracy, citizenship and political representation as they emerge in different forms of political communication. He is particularly interested in political communication "from below" and in the context of popular culture. Ongoing research in this area is the international research project The Voice of the People. Popular Expectations of Democracy in Postwar Western Europe (funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation).

Secondly, he studies forms of politicisation and political communication in and through sport. He is involved in the NWA project Re/Presenting Europe in the work package Arenas of Belonging: Sport Heroes as Models of Aspiration, Inspiration, and Participation.

Thirdly, his research focuses on the use of historical knowledge, insights and skills in policy contexts. His new research project Integrating History in Dutch Public Policy: Perceptions, Practices and Interventions will start in 2024. He is also involved in the Journal of Applied History as founding editor.

He teaches in the Bachelor's and Master's programmes in History and the two-year educational Master's programme in History and serves as the vice dean of education at the Faculty of Arts.

• Patterns of Political Interaction

• Applied History