Research

I have throughout my academic career been interested in workers conditions and in particular workers collective agency. I have done extensive research on the role of labour and of sustainability standards in global value chains in sectors like tea, flowers, bananas and cotton. In addition, I have a broader interest in collective agency, in particular in combination with more radical alternative visions of societal relations.

I am currently heading a larger research project on Informal Worker Organisation and Social Protection, (SPIWORK) carried out in cooperation with University of Nairobi in Kenya and Mzumbe University in Tanzania. The overall aim of the project is to generate new knowledge on informal worker organizations, and their potential for enabling informal worker access to social protection measures in Kenya and Tanzania. For more information see Informal Worker Organisation and Social Protection (SPIWORK) link

Together with Jacob Rasmussen, Peter Nielsen and Emilia Lewartowska, I have started a new research project: “Producing alternative green futures: Exploring interconnections between green transitions and socioeconomic and political organization”. This collaborative research project with reserachers from South Africa (Michelle Williams and Charles Simane) and India (Ashish Kothari) will explore cases in India, South Africa and Denmark of alternative initiatives which share a holistic understanding of links between environmental sustainability and more participatory democratic modes of socioeconomic and political organizing. For more information see link

In addition, I am currently engaged in research on democratic enterprises in Denmark and part of a new research network on democratic ownership (see link).

I also participate in the research project “Global Value Chains and Climate Change in Bangladesh” where I undertake research on the local recycling industry as well as local ‘slow fashion’ brands (see Link)