- About
- Teaching
- Research
- Publications
- CV
- Other activities
- Democratic systems
- Political institutions
- Politics in the West Nordic and Arctic regions
- Political parties
- Parliamentary control
- Mixed methods
- Parliamentary control institutions
- MP control activity
- Accountability
- Political parties
- Democratic systems
- Arctic Council and Arctic politics
- Foreign affairs committees
- Autonomous areas
- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0008-0234
- West, Hallbera (2020): "MP Firefighting and the institutional logic", The Journal of Legislative Studies, DOI: 10.1080/13572334.2020.1818927
- West, Hallbera (2020): “MP Firefighting and the Partisan Logic”, Scandinavian Political Studies, vol. 43: 1, 1-23.
- West, Hallbera (2018): MP Firefighting: When do MPs hold government accountable, Politicas ph.d. serie, Institut for Statskundskab, Aarhus Universitet.
- Public policy and administration (10 ECTS), bachelor level
- Research methodology and research design (5 ECTS), master level
- Method seminar related to Practice Learning in West Nordic Studies (30 ECTS), master level
- Theoretical essay for West Nordic Studies (10 ECTS), master level
- Politics in the West Nordic and Arctic Region (10 ECTS), master level
- Parliamentary control – challenges and opportunities (2,5 ECTS), master level
- Representation and accountability in parliamentary systems (10 ECTS), together with Helene Helboe Pedersen Professor at the department of political science, University of Aarhus, 2017, master level.
- Introduction to political science and Faroese politics (10 ECTS), bachelor level
Parliamentary control
My new research project is titled:"Parliamentary control: How to move beyond partisan behavior?" and is funded by Carlsbergfonden:
The project´s empirical focus in on the parliaments in the Nordic countries, and focuses on variation in control institutions and procedures and effects on MPs behavior in control activity.
The project builds on the experiences from my Ph.d. project.
My Ph.d dissertation from November 2018: “MP Firefighting: When do MPs hold government accountable?” addresses the central accountability concern about how to control executive power. Even though the voters have an important say in this, they have no formal control options between elections. Here, parliaments have a say, especially in parliamentary systems where parliament delegates power to government, not the voter. Government answers to parliament. However, in parliament, MPs face expectations from different roles, the strongest being the role as “partisans”. The dissertation enhances our knowledge about MPs and parliamentary control by investigating under which conditions MPs engage in control activity. The dissertation focuses on Fire Alarm control activity from decentral parliamentary control institution and argues that Fire Alarms call for MP Firefighting in parliament.
More information about my dissertation: https://politica.dk/politicas-phd-serie/hallbera-west/
Arctic politics
Another research area is Arctic politics, where I focus on the Arctic Council, but also ways for national democratic elected representatives to oversee the development.
In 2019 I received a researcher travel grant for Arctic Circle, from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, DK.
Paper: West, Hallbera: “Ways for MPs to oversee Arctic foreign policy - the case of the Faroe Islands”
Democracy and citizenship
I have previously worked on and published an article about democratic culture and citizenship related to the Faroe Islands.
Research presentation
"Parliamentary control: How to move beyond partisan behavior?", DPSA online seminar October 2020, Department of Political Science, Aarhus, October 2020.
"The Faroe Islands and the Arctic", Gateway to the Arctic VII, Faroe Islands, February 2020
“How to control Arctic politics: political oversight in the case of the Faroe Islands”, Danish Political Science Association, Annual Meeting, October 24-25, 2019.
“How to control Arctic politics: political oversight in the case of the Faroe Islands”, Arctic Circle, October 12, 2019.
“Political Inheritance”, The Faroese Research Council, Annual research day, September 20, 2019.
“MP Firefighting - When do MPs Hold Government Accountable”, MPSA – Midwest Political Science Association, Conference, Chicago, USA, April 2018.
”Control in parliament – a question of partisan incentives”, The Faroese Academy of Sciences, Conference, Nordic House, Faroe Islands, November 2017.
“Democracy – also a question of accountability”, conference: Nordic Youth; Democracy and Participation, Nordic Council of Ministers, Faroe Islands, October 1, 2015.
2016 – Danish Political Science Association, Annual meeting, Vejle, October.
Parliamentary control
My new research project is titled:"Parliamentary control: How to move beyond partisan behavior?" and is funded by Carlsbergfonden:
Autonomous areas
Comparative study of the Faroe Islands, Aland Islands and Greenland
Host for international research collaboration workshop February 25-27, 2020
Host for the workshop „Gateway to the Arctic VII - Leaving the beaten path - how can sustainable development be reconciled with environmental protection and climate change? “ at the University of the Faroe Islands February 25-27, 2020. The event was jointly organised by the AWI Climate Office, the Research Initiative for Regional Climate Change REKLIM, the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) and the University of Faroe Islands. From REKLIM / AWI: Dr Klaus Grosfeld and Dr Renate Treffeisen and from UVSQ Prof Jan Borm.
https://www.gransking.fo/en/resources/news/workshop-on-arctic-issues-strengthened-cross-disciplinary-network/
- Ph.d dissertation from November 2018: “MP Firefighting: When do MPs hold government accountable?”
Peer review
- West, Hallbera (2020): "MP Firefighting and the institutional logic", The Journal of Legislative Studies, DOI: 10.1080/13572334.2020.1818927
- West, Hallbera (2020): “MP Firefighting and the Partisan Logic”, Scandinavian Political Studies, vol. 43: 1, 1-23.
- West, Hallbera (2018): MP Firefighting: When do MPs hold government accountable, Politicas ph.d. serie, Institut for Statskundskab, Aarhus Universitet
- Hoff, Jens and West, Hallbera F. (2008): “Citizenship in the Faroe Islands: Participant, parochial or colonial?” Scandinavian Political Studies, Vol. 31, No. 3.
Other publications
- West, Hallbera F. (2011): “Lyfti í valstríðnum – ein óbúgvin politisk skipan” (Promises in the electoral campaign), in Reistrup and Skorini ed.: “Valið og valdið” (The Election and the Power), Sprotin 2011.
- West, Hallbera (2004): “Folket i det moderne demokrati – en analyse af medborgerskab på Færøerne” (The People of Modern Democracy – an Investigation of Citizenship in the Faroe Islands), master thesis, University of Copenhagen.
- West, Hallbera and Heinesen, Maria Amalia (2004): Kilder til Færøernes og Grønlands Historie, Føroya Fróðskaparfelag, Tórshavn (Sources to the history of the Faroe Islands and Greenland).
- Hovgaard, Gestur and West, Hallbera (2003): Rekruttering av høgt útbúnari arbeiðsmegi til fiskivinnuna, Granskingardepilin fyri Økismenning (Recruitment of highly educated workforce in the fishing industry, Regional Research Centre), Klaksvík.
Textbook material
- West, Hallbera (2015): Fólkaræði í Føroyum, miðnám, Hoydalar.
- West, Hallbera (2015): Politiska skipanin og avgerðartilgongdin í Føroyum, miðnám, Hoydalar.
Articles
- West, Hallbera (2018): “Andstøðan grenjar, ella ger hon?” (Is the opposition only complaining?), Dimmalætting, November 9, 2018.
- West, Hallbera (2017): “En skandale er ikke bare en skandale” (A scandal is not only a scandal), medlemsblad Enhedslisten, org.enhedslisten.dk, september 2017.
- West, Hallbera (2017): “Hví legði Jógvan Skorheim frá sær?”, Sosialurin, 15. september 2017.
- West, Hallbera (2016): “Málið halgar mátan” (The end justifies the means), Dimmalætting, January 1 2016.
- West, Hallbera (2015): “Meðan vit bíða eftir vali” (While we´re waiting for the election), Dimmalætting, Mai 1 2015.
- West, Hallbera (2015): “Lærdómur er jú lættur at bera” (Learning is a light carry (a Faroese saying)), Dimmalætting, March 27 2015.
- West, Hallbera (2013): “Kinesarin og skiparin í føroyska fólkaræðinum” (The Chinese and the skipper in the Faroese democracy), Dimmalætting, September 6 2013.
- West, Hallbera F. and Petersen, Heri (2010): “Órógvin um arbeiðsmegina í Norðurlondum” (The troubles of the workforce in the Nordic countries), in Dimmalætting and Sosialurin in December 2010.
- West, Hallbera F. (2010): “Vælferðarsamfelagið á einum vegamóti? Politisk0ir vindar í Norðurlondum” (The Welfare society at a crossroad? Political winds in the Nordic countries), Dimmalætting, March 2010.
- West, Hallbera F. (2008): “Medborgaraskapur og politisk mentan í Føroyum” (Citizenship and political culture in the Faroe Islands), Dimmalætting, August 2008.
- 2018: Ph.d. in political science, dual degree from Department of political science, University of Aarhus, and University of the Faroe Islands.
- 2005: MSc in political science, Cand.scient.pol, University of Copenhagen
- 2019- : Assistant Professor in political science, program leader West Nordic Studies
- 2018-2019: Program leader West Nordic Studies
- 2015-2018: Ph.D. student (3 semesters each at the Department of Political Science, Aarhus and the University of the Faroe Islands)
- 2013-2015: Teacher, Upper secondary school, Hoydalar, and University of the Faroe Islands
- 2012-2013: Head of department, Social Services (Almannaverkið )
- 2011-2012: Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs (Almannamálaráðið)
- 2010-2011: Adviser, House of Industry, Faroe Islands (Vinnuhúsið)
- 2005-2010: Head of Section/Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs (Almannamálaráðið)
Research student assistent:
- 2002-2004: for constitutional expert group established by the North Atlantic Group in the Danish Folketing
- 2002-2003: for the Regional Research Centre, Faroe Islands
- 2019 – Research grant from Carlsbergfonden 722.854 Dkr. (https://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/da/Forskningsaktiviteter/Bevillingsstatistik/Bevillingsoversigt/CF19_0618_Hallbera-West)
- 2019 - Researcher travel grant for Arctic Circle, Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet, DK.
- 2015 - 2/3 Ph.d. grant from the Faroese Research Council, 1/3 Ph.d. grant from Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Interviewed for articles:
- On the role of political youth organizations in the 2019 election, Sosialurin, September 6
- On Faroese parliamentary election August 31 2019, Ritzau, August 27 2019
- On political party positions regarding abortion policy in the Faroe Islands, Jyllands-Posten, June 2 2018
- On volunteering work in the Faroe Islands, Le Monde Diplomatique, Mai 2016
- On the recent development in the Social Democratic Party, Sosialurin, April 19 2013
- On volunteering work in the Faroe Islands, NVL, www.nvl.org, 15-02-2011
Political analyst in the media (selected):
- Breddin, 21-10-2020, municipal election 2020
- ÚF tíðindir, 21-10-2020, municipal election 2020
- ÚF sending, 01-09-2020, “Tá makrelurin broytti Føroyar” 5:6
- D&V 26-06-2020, political polarization and conflict
- Breddin 19-05-2020, parliamentary systems in a time of crisis (corona)
- ÚF 14-04-2020, limitations in parliamentary processes during the corona crisis
- Breddin 12-02-2020 – parliamentary treatment about rules for private financial support for political parties
- Breddin 08-01-2020 – coalition formation in the Faroe Islands
- SVF 07-01-2020 - Political inheritance, 15 minutes lecture from the annual research day
- Breddin 10-12-20 – 25 years since the new governing rule
- Pressan 22-11-19 – foreign policy (case – minister and Jerusalem embassy)
- Nón 26-09-19 – Citizen democracy
- DR, P1 – the new established Faroese government coalition, September 14 2019
- Nón 19-09-2019 – The West Nordic Council
- ÚF – The Faroese 2019 election, on the election day August 31
- DR, P1 – The Faroese 2019 election, on the election day August 31
- Radarin 10-01-2019 – Elections and polling stations
- Dagur & Vika 20-12-2018 – No Confidence Vote in parliament
- Radarin 21-02-2018 – Democracy measures
- Nón 14-12-17 – the political situation
- Nón 23-11-17 – the political situation
- Coalition and opposition relations in the Faroese political system, November 6 2017
- Nón 05-10-17 – 6. October 1992, KVF, October 5 2017
- Democracy in the Faroe Islands, International day on democracy, KVF, September 15 2017
- On the demonstration related to the “Eysturoyar” tunnel project and implications of lack of political trust, KVF, September 2 2013.
- On democracy deficit, KVF, January 8 2013
- On democracy in the Faroe Islands, KVF, January 8 2013
- On the referendum on municipality reform, KVF, April 24 2012
- On the annual finance proposal and political decisions, KVF, April 3 2012
- 100 days since the election, KVF, February 6 2012
- On the promises in the electoral campaign in the 2011 election, KVF, December 2 2011
- On youngsters and democracy, KVF, October 5 and 18 2011
Public lectures (selected):
- “West Nordic Region and the West Nordic Council”, West Nordic Council, Nordic House, Faroe Islands, September 23 2019.
- “Political Inheritance”, The Faroese Research Council, Annual research day, September 20 2019.
- Presentation of Ph.D. dissertation, Samfelagið, February 20, 2019.
- “Eldsløkking í Løgtinginum, tá eldávaring ljóðar frá Umboðsmanninum” (Firefighting in parliament when the Ombudsman raises a Fire Alarm), Ph.d. verkætlan, Vísindavøka á Ferð, Granskingarráðið, September 20 and 22 2017 (líknandi fyrilestur fyri umsitingina hjá Løgtinginum, Felagið Lóg og BLF).
- “Fólkaræði – eisini ein spurningur um ábyrging” (Democracy – also a question of accountability), conference: Nordic Youth; Democracy and Participation, arranged as a part of the Icelandic chair for 2014 in Nordisk Ministerråd, held in the Faroe Islands, October 1 2015.
- “Rigsfællesskabet – formelt og uformelt” (The Home Rule Arrangement – formal and informal). Danish upper secondary school teachers visiting Hoydalar Tórshavn, March 2015.
- “Kinesarin og skiparin í føroyska fólkaræðinum” (The Chinese and the Skipper in the Faroese democracy), arranged by Starvsmannafelagið (union for clerks, reporters and social workers), September 2013.
- “Hugleiðingar um fólkaræði í Føroyum” (Thoughts on Faroese democracy), Fólkafundur (Peoples meeting), 21.-22. September 2012.
- “Koyrið so á motorin” (presentation of the report on industry policy), House of Industry, October 2011.
- “Meðborgaraskap” (Citizenship), The University of the Faroe Islands, September 2011.
- “Arbeiði, trygd og vælferð - í norðurlendskum høpi” (Work, safety and welfare – in a Nordic context), Conference on the workforce (“Tilknýtið til arbeiðsmarknaðin”), October 2010, arranged by the Ministry of social affairs, www.amr.fo.
- “Truet velfærdssamfund? Færøsk velfærd i en nordisk kontekst” (Threatened welfare? Faroese welfare in a Nordic context), lecture for secretaries of political left parties in the Nordic countries visiting the Faroese Parliament in 2010.