Marie Sandberg

Marie Sandberg

Associate Professor - Promotion Programme

Marie Sandberg is director of the Centre for Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS), www.amis.ku.dk and the President of The International Society for Ethnology and Foklore (SIEF), https://www.siefhome.org

Research projects

“Boundary Work - New interfaces between state and civil society: Volunteerism and refugees in a self-support and repatriation context research network” (Role: PI), a collaboration with DRC Danish Refugee Council, Danish Red Cross, and University College Absalon. Funded by the VELUX Foundations 2021-2024.

Helping Hands. Research Network on the Everyday Border Work of European Citizens (role: PI) (DFF bevilling – 6107-00111)

DIGINAUTS - Migrants' Digital Practices in/of the European Border Regime. Financially supported by the Velux Foundation. Project period: 1.3.2018-1.8.2020 (Role: Co-PI), http://www.en.cgs.aau.dk/research/projects/diginauts/

Research profile

Marie Sandberg’s research focuses on ethnographies on border practices and experiences of borders in everyday life Europe. A general theme in Marie’s work is the study of Europe as a historically burdened and paradoxical ground for creating unity along with diversity. This point of tension is scrutinized through the lens of Europe’s interchangeable borders, from the EU free mobility regime to ongoing rebordering processes. Her main research themes are everyday europeanisation, border and migration practices, and the European border regime. Whether it concerns her research on everyday border practices across the German-Polish border (Sandberg 2009, 2012, 2016), Polish construction workers commuting to Denmark, (Sandberg 2012, 2015, 2016), refugee welcome networks in Northern European locales (Sandberg 2020), or refugees’ digital practices when navigating the European border regime (Sandberg and Mollerup forthcoming), they all serve as ethnographic entrances into studying the ongoing reconfigurations of the European border regime. Her research on everyday europeanisation ‘from below’ is deeply entangled with structural and political framings ‘from above’. As a result, research on such everyday europeanisation practices in ethnographic detail can contribute with new understandings of the continuous reconfigurations of Europe and what ‘European’ can mean.

Marie Sandberg has authored and co-authored several research publications in international renowned peer-reviewed journals (such as Identities, Nordic Journal for Migration Research, Ethnologia Europaea, Journal of Borderland Studies), co-edited volumes, special issues and book seriesAmong her publications is the book The Border Multiple: The Practicing of Borders between Public Policy and Everyday Life in a Re-scaling Europe (edited together with Dorte J. Andersen & Martin Klatt, 2012, Ashgate Border Regions Series).

Marie Sandberg earned her PhD 2009 at the University of Copenhagen, Ethnology, with the thesis The Present/Absent Border. Europeanisation Processes in a Twin Town on the German-Polish Border. Based on ethnographic fieldwork the thesis depicts how young German and Polish high-school pupils experience living in a European cross-border region.

Since 2003 Marie Sandberg has been teaching courses in Ethnology and of the Master of Applied Cultural Analysis programme on ethnographic methodologies and cultural analytical approaches at the University of Copenhagen. 

Marie Sandberg was joint editor-in-chief with Prof. Prof. Monique Scheer of Ethnologia Europaea - Journal of European Ethnology, 2013-2020.

From 2017-2020 she was evaluating and assessing research applications for The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond), Sweden (Assessment group B4: Anthropology, Archaeology, Ethnology, History, Religion and Philosophy).

Further, she is a member of IMISCOE board of directors, from 2018-2020 a board member of The International Society of Ethnology and Folklore (SIEF) and Erasmus coordinator of Ethnology, Saxo Institute, UCPH.

Current research

“Boundary Work - New interfaces between state and civil society: Volunteerism and refugees in a self-support and repatriation context research network” (PI), a collaboration with DRC Danish Refugee Council, Danish Red Cross, and University College Absalon. Funded by the VELUX Foundations 2021-2024.

DIGINAUTS - Migrants' Digital Practices in/of the European Border Regime. Financially supported by the Velux Foundation. Project period: 2018-2020 (co-PI). http://www.en.cgs.aau.dk/research/projects/diginauts/

Helping Hands. Research Network on the Everyday Border Work of European Citizens (DFF bevilling – 6107-00111) (PI).

Circular migration in Europe.

Selected publications

  1. Published

    How to Hatch the Wings of a Mockingbird: A Comment on the EU’s New Migration and Asylum Pact and the Risk of Destroying Civil Society Engagement in Refugee Relief Work Internally to the EU Memberstates

    Andersen, D. & Sandberg, Marie, 2021, In: Journal of Borderlands Studies. 37, 2, p. 415-423 9 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  2. Published

    “Dearest Little Wife”. The Gender Work of Polish Transnational Families in Past and Present

    Sandberg, Marie, 2018, In: Nordic Journal of Migration Research. 8, 4, p. 221-228 8 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  3. Published

    'EUROP' House of European History - mellem paneuropæisk og postnational erindringspraksis

    Sandberg, Marie & Riegels Melchior, Marie, 10 Jul 2018, In: Kulturstudier. 8, 1, p. 140-166 26 p., 6.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Kultur som praksis. Etnologiske perspektiver på individualitet og fællesskab, kultur og historie.

    Christensen, S., Jespersen, Astrid Pernille, Mellemgaard, Signe & Sandberg, Marie, 10 Aug 2017, København: Hans Reitzels Forlag. 202 p.

    Research output: Book/ReportAnthologypeer-review

  6. Published

    Fællesskaber i kulturvidenskabeligt perspektiv

    Sandberg, Marie, Christensen, S. & Jespersen, Astrid Pernille, 10 Aug 2017, Kultur som praksis: Etnologiske perspektiver på individualitet og fællesskab, kultur og historie. København: Hans Reitzels Forlag, p. 67-102 35 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Inverting the Telescope on Borders that Matter: Conversations in Café Europa

    Andersen, D. J., Kramsch, O. T. & Sandberg, Marie, 2015, In: Journal of Contemporary European Studies (Print Edition). p. 459-476 17 p., Volume 23, Issue 4.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  8. Published

    Restructuring locality: practice, identity and place-making on the German-Polish border: Special issue ed. by Nina Glick Schiller and Garbi Schmidt

    Sandberg, Marie, 15 Mar 2016, In: Identities - Global Studies in Culture and Power. Volume 23, issue 1, p. pages 66-83 16 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  9. Published

    Doing Borderwork in Workplaces: Circular Migration From Poland to Denmark and the Netherlands

    Sandberg, Marie & Pijpers, R., 14 Aug 2015, Mobility and Migration Choices: Thresholds to Crossing Borders. van der Velde, M. & van Naerssen, T. (eds.). Surrey: Ashgate, p. 185-198 13 p. (Border Regions Series).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Between social dumping and social protection. The challenge of creating ’orderly working conditions’ among Polish circular migrants in the Copenhagen area, Denmark.

    Nielsen, Niels Jul & Sandberg, Marie, 20 Jun 2014, In: Ethnologia Europaea: Journal for European Ethnology. 44, 1, p. 23-37

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  11. Published

    Mellemværende: Solidaritetsarbejdets skæringspunkter i frivillig flygtningehjælp

    Andersen, D. J., Aparna, K. & Sandberg, Marie, 5 Apr 2019, In: Social Kritik:Tidsskrift for social analyse & debat. 31, 157, p. 4-10 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  12. Published

    The Border Multiple: The Practicing of Borders between Public Policy and Everyday Life in a Rescaling Europe

    Andersen, D. J. (ed.), Klatt, M. (ed.) & Sandberg, Marie (ed.), 1 Sep 2012, Ashgate. 257 p.

    Research output: Book/ReportAnthologypeer-review

  13. Published

    Guest Editorial: Cultural Analysis as Intervention

    Jespersen, Astrid Pernille, Petersen, M. K., Ren, C. B. & Sandberg, Marie, 1 May 2012, In: Science Studies. 25, 1, p. 3-12 10 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  14. Published

    Karol's Kingdom: Commentary for Imagined Families in Mobile Worlds

    Sandberg, Marie, 31 Dec 2012, In: Ethnologia Europaea: Journal for European Ethnology. 42, 2, p. 87-93 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

  15. Published

    Ethnologia Europaea Revisited: Launching Future Ethnologies. An Introduction

    Sandberg, Marie, 2014, In: Ethnologia Europaea. Journal of European Ethnology. 44, 2, p. 5-16 12 p., 1.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  16. Published
  17. Published

    Migrationens tidsalder: Nyt forskningscenter skal sætte fokus på migration som mulighed og udfordring i det 21. århundrede

    Gammeltoft, P., Gregersen, Frans, Holtug, Nils, Lausten, Pia Schwarz, Michelsen, Anders Ib, Sandberg, Marie & Warburg, Margit, 2013, In: Universitetsavisen. 2 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalContribution to newspaper - Feature article

  18. Published

    Introduction: The Border Multiple

    Andersen, D. J. & Sandberg, Marie, 1 Sep 2012, The Border Multiple: The Practicing of Borders between Public Policy and Everyday Life in a Rescaling Europe. Ashgate

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    BorderOrderings: The Co-Existence of Border Focusing and Letting Border Issues take the Back Seat at the German-Polish Border

    Sandberg, Marie, 2012, The Border Multiple: The Practicing of Borders Between Public Policy and Everyday Life in A Rescaling Europe. Jagodic Andersen, D., Klatt, M. & Sandberg, M. (eds.). Ashgate, (Ashgate Border Region Series).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Enhed i mangfoldighed. EU's forsøg på at afpolitisere folkekulturen og civilisationsbegrebet

    Sandberg, Marie & Andersen, D., 2010, Kulturelle Processer i Europa. Jespersen, A., Otto, L. & Hemmersam, F. (eds.). København: Museum Tusculanum, p. 225-236 11 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearch

  21. Published

    Grænsens nærvær og fravær. Europæiseringsprocesser i en tvillingeby på den polsk-tyske grænse

    Sandberg, Marie, 2009, Det Humanistiske Fakultet, Københavns Universitet. 259 p.

    Research output: Book/ReportPh.D. thesis

  22. Published

    'Performing the Border. Cartographic Enactment of the German-Polish border among German and Polish High School Pupils'. In: Anthropological Journal of European Cultures 2009

    Sandberg, Marie, 2009, In: Anthropological Journal of European Cultures. 18, p. 107-128 32 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  23. Published

    Constructing EuroMan. The Enactment of Regional Identity-formation in the European Integration Process

    Sandberg, Marie & Andersen, D., 2008, In: Ethnologia Scandinavica. 38, p. 39-60 21 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  24. Published

    The Ambivalence of Gender

    Sandberg, Marie, 2008, In: Ethnologia Scandinavica. 38

    Research output: Contribution to journalLiterature review

  25. Published

    Memory and Borders in Europe: - a Comparative  Field-Work based Preject.

    Otto, L. & Sandberg, Marie, 2008. 1 p.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterResearch

  26. Published

    Viljen til Europa - Europas vilje? Kultur, ånd og værdier i EU efter Murens fald

    Rasmussen, H. & Sandberg, Marie, 2007, Velfærdssamfund: - velfærdsstaters forsvarform?. Højrup, T. & Bolving, K. (eds.). 1 ed. København: Museum Tusculanum, Vol. 8. p. 247-284 37 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearch

  27. Published

    Verden over - en introduktion til stats- og livsformsteorien

    Jespersen, Astrid Pernille, Sandberg, Marie & Melchior, M. R., 2006, Verden over - en introduktion til stats- og livsformsteorien og dens aktuelle anvendelse i etnologien. København: Museum Tusculanum, p. 9-48

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearch

  28. Published
  29. Published

    Hvad er et udgangspunkt? - et kritisk interview med Thomas Højrup om videnskabssyn, værksteder og om hvordan en teori kan rystes

    Jespersen, Astrid Pernille & Sandberg, Marie, 2006, Verden over - en introduktion til stats- og livsformsteorien og dens aktuelle anvendelse i etnologien. København: Museum Tusculanum, p. 261-310

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearch

  30. Published

    Erindring og glemsel i det post-socialistiske Polen

    Otto, L. & Sandberg, Marie, 2004, In: Jordens Folk - Etnografisk Revy. 1, p. 10

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal article

  31. Published

    Cou/rage! On Permanent Temporariness and the Precarization of Academia

    Sandberg, Marie, 6 Jun 2023, In: Zeitschrift für Empirische Kulturwissenschaft. Vol. 119, 1, p. 114-118 5 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal article

  32. Published

    Moving the Border. The Everyday Border Work In/Of The European Border Regime

    Sandberg, Marie, 2018, Jahrbuch für Europäische Ethnologie: Dänemark. Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh, p. 49-58 10 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    Grænse: Den Store Danske/Lex.dk

    Sandberg, Marie, 1 Feb 2023, Den Store Danske Encyklopædi/Lex.dk.

    Research output: Other contributionNet publication - Internet publicationCommunication

  34. Published

    Olga Tokarczuk, House of Day, House of Night. Reading from the border in the German-Polish borderlands.

    Sandberg, Marie, 1 Jun 2023, Reading Matters: An Unfestschrift for Regina Bendix. Marzolph, U. (ed.). Göttingen University Press

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  35. Published
  36. Published

    The migration mobile: Border dissidence, sociotechnical resistance and the construction of irregularized migrants

    Sandberg, Marie (ed.), Bak Jørgensen, M. (ed.) & Galis, V. (ed.), 2022, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. (Challenging Migration Series, Vol. 11).

    Research output: Book/ReportAnthologypeer-review

  37. Published

    ‘Fast trusting’: Practices of trust during irregularized journeys to and through Europe

    Mollerup, Nina Grønlykke & Sandberg, Marie, 2022, The migration mobile: Border dissidence, sociotechnical resistance and the construction of irregularized migrants. Galis, V., Bak Jørgensen, M. & Sandberg, M. (eds.). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, p. 143-162 19 p. (Challenging Migration Series; No. 11).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    The temporality of humanitarianism: Provincializing everyday volunteer practices at European borders

    Bendixsen, S. & Sandberg, Marie, 12 Jul 2021, In: Intersections East European Journal of Society and Politics. 7, 2, p. 13-31 18 p., 1.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  39. Published

    Caring for (Big) Data: An Introduction to Research Methodologies and Ethical Challenges in Digital Migration Studies

    Sandberg, Marie & Rossi, L., 2021, Research methodologies and ethical challenges in digital migration studies: Caring for (big) data. Sandberg, M., Rossi, L., Galis, V. & Jørgensen, M. B. (eds.). Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 1-21 20 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Precarious Citizenship and Melancholic Longing: On the Value of Volunteering after the Refugee Arrivals to Europe 2015

    Sandberg, Marie & Andersen, D. J., 26 Nov 2020, In: Nordic Journal of Migration Research. 10, 4, p. 41–56 16 p., 4.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  41. Published

    Europe Trouble: Welcome Culture and the Disruption of the European Border Regime.

    Sandberg, Marie & Andersen, D. J., 26 Nov 2020, In: Nordic Journal of Migration Research. 10, 4, p. 1-9 9 p., 1.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  42. Published

    Øresundsfolden. Et essay om grænsens kompleksitet og dødelighed.

    Sandberg, Marie, 15 Jul 2020, Checkpoint 2020: Mennesker, grænser og visioner i Øresundsbroens tid. Idvall, M., Palmehag, A. & Wesmann, J. (eds.). Halmstad: Makadam Förlag, p. 35-46 11 p. (Centrum för Öresundsstudier).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Selected activities

  1. Ethnologia Europaea (Journal)

    Sandberg, Marie (Editor)

    2013 → …

    Activity: Peer-review and editorial work typesEditor of Research journalResearch

  2. Keynote Bergen: Mobility Across Borders: An Ethnographic Study of BorderWork amongst Polish Circular Migrants

    Sandberg, Marie (Lecturer)

    19 Jun 2012

    Activity: Talk or presentation typesLecture and oral contribution

  3. Visiting fellow Nijmegen Centre for Border Research: Radboud University

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    1 May 20121 Aug 2012

    Activity: Other activity typesOther (prizes, external teaching and other activities) - Period visiting other institutions

  4. "Kultur, ånd og værdier i EU": Kronik, Universitetsavisen

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    27 Apr 2007

    Activity: Other activity typesOther (prizes, external teaching and other activities) - Other

  5. 17th Nordic Migration Research Conference

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    13 Aug 201415 Aug 2014

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesParticipation in workshop, seminar, course

  6. 17th Nordic Migration Research Conference

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    13 Aug 2014

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesParticipation in workshop, seminar, course

  7. 17th Nordic Migration Research Conference

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    13 Aug 201415 Aug 2014

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesOrganisation of and participation in conference

  8. 33 Nordic Ethnology and Folklore Conference

    Sandberg, Marie (Organizer)

    19 Aug 201521 Aug 2015

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesOrganisation of and participation in conference

  9. 33 Nordic Ethnology and Folklore Conference

    Sandberg, Marie (Organizer)

    19 Aug 2015

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesParticipation in workshop, seminar, course

  10. Authors meet Commentators Session: The Border Multiple

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    21 May 2012

    Activity: Other activity typesOther (prizes, external teaching and other activities) - Other

  11. Central European Days

    Sandberg, Marie (Organizer)

    19 Mar 201520 Mar 2015

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesOrganisation of and participation in conference

  12. Conference participation: DASTS 2011 : Danish Association for Science and Technology Studies

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    9 Jun 2011

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesOrganisation of and participation in conference

  13. Den Gode Uddannelse 2011: Projekt: Arbejdsmigration i Europa

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    2011 → …

    Activity: Other activity typesOther (prizes, external teaching and other activities) - Other

  14. Forschungskolloquium Universität Wien

    Sandberg, Marie (Other)

    7 Apr 2011

    Activity: Talk or presentation typesLecture and oral contribution

  15. Nordic Migration Research, Vice-Chair (External organisation)

    Sandberg, Marie (Member)

    20142016

    Activity: Membership typesMembership in research network

  16. Rejsestipendium 2012: Christian og Ottilia Brorsons Rejselegat for Yngre Videnskabsmænd- og Kvinder

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    May 2012Jul 2012

    Activity: Other activity typesOther (prizes, external teaching and other activities) - Prizes, scholarships, distinctions

  17. Relocating Borders

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    10 Jan 201313 Jan 2013

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesOrganisation of and participation in conference

  18. Science Studies (Journal)

    Sandberg, Marie (Editor)

    1 May 2012

    Activity: Peer-review and editorial work typesEditor of Research journalResearch

  19. Science Studies special issue on 'Cultural Analysis as Intervention' (Journal)

    Sandberg, Marie (Editor)

    20102012

    Activity: Peer-review and editorial work typesEditor of Research journalResearch

  20. Ethnologia Europaea (Journal)

    Sandberg, Marie (Editor)

    2014

    Activity: Peer-review and editorial work typesEditor of Research journalResearch

  21. TRANSNATIONAL MIGRATION: DISCIPLINARY IMPACTS

    Sandberg, Marie (Speaker)

    29 Jan 201530 Jan 2015

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesParticipation in workshop, seminar, course

  22. The Border Multiple (Journal)

    Sandberg, Marie (Editor)

    1 Nov 20101 Jun 2012

    Activity: Peer-review and editorial work typesEditor of SeriesResearch

  23. Visions of Europe in the Eurovision Song Contest

    Sandberg, Marie (Organizer)

    5 May 20147 May 2014

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesOrganisation of and participation in conference

  24. Østeuropæere er det nye proletariat

    Sandberg, Marie (Participant)

    13 Mar 2014

    Activity: Other activity typesOther (prizes, external teaching and other activities) - Other

  25. Good Intentions. Researching volunteerism without humanitarianism.

    Sandberg, Marie (Other)

    15 Apr 2019

    Activity: Talk or presentation typesLecture and oral contribution

  26. Europe Trouble: Welcome Culture and the Disruption of the European Border Regime

    Sandberg, Marie (Organizer)

    12 Jun 2019

    Activity: Participating in an event - typesOrganisation of and participation in conference

Selected prizes

  1. Erasmus mobilitetsstipendium 2011

    Sandberg, Marie (Recipient), Apr 2011

    Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions

ID: 6491