Image of Fredrik Engelstad

Fredrik Engelstad

Norwegian version of this page
Affiliated Researcher
Research topics: elections, democracy, equality and gender
Mobile phone:
+47 900 22 484
Email:
fredrik.engelstad@sosgeo.uio.no

Fredrik Engelstad is a trained sociologist. He was head of the Norwegian Institute for Social Research from 1986 to 2007, and has later been associated with the institute in a 20-percent position. At UiO he was a professor of sociology in an adjunct position from 1991 to 2007 and in a full position from 2008 to 2014. In his research, he has been concerned with the labor market, organization, power and democracy, cultural sociology and sociological theory. 

Engelstad was series editor of the yearbook series Comparative Social Research from 1996 to 2026 and has held a number of professional and public positions – including as head of the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (1991-1999), and as a member of the research group in the Power and Democracy Inquiry (1998-2003). His research at ISF includes studies of elites, gender quotas and institutional change.

Projects

Publications

  • Trygstad, Sissel Charlotte; Ødegård, Anne Mette & Engelstad, Fredrik (2026). Do Institutional Arrangements Matter for a More Friendly Whistleblowing Environment? In Lewis, David; Trygstad, Sissel C. & Vandekerckhove, Wim (Ed.), Whistleblowing and Freedom of Expression in Working Life. Emerald Publishing Limited. p. 49–74. doi: 10.1108/s0195-631020260000038004. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Trygstad, Sissel Charlotte (2024). Whistleblowing – an extension of working life democracy? The case of Norway. Economic and Industrial Democracy: an international journal. doi: 10.1177/0143831X241265901. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2022). Makt i det norske samfunnet. In Frønes, Ivar & Kjølsrød, Lise (Ed.), Det norske samfunn : bind 2. Gyldendal Akademisk. p. 341–364. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Larsen, Håkon (2019). Nordic civil spheres and pro-civil states. In Alexander, Jeffrey C.; Lund, Anna & Voyer, Andrea (Ed.), The Nordic Civil Sphere. Polity Press. p. 39–63. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens; Mangset, Marte & Teigen, Mari (2019). Elites and People: Challenges to Democracy. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens; Mangset, Marte & Teigen, Mari (Ed.), Elites and people: Challenges to democracy. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. p. 1–13. doi: 10.1108/s0195-631020190000034001. Full text in Research Archive
  • Mangset, Marte; Engelstad, Fredrik; Teigen, Mari & Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens (2019). The Populist Elite Paradox: Using Elite Theory to Elucidate the Shapes and Stakes of Populist Elite Critiques. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens; Mangset, Marte & Teigen, Mari (Ed.), Elites and people: Challenges to democracy. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. p. 203–222. doi: 10.1108/s0195-631020190000034010. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Afterword: Institutional Differentiation and Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 389–400. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-019. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (2018). Introduction: Democracy, Institutional Compatibility and Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 1–21. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-002. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Models of elite integration. In Best, Heinrich & Higley, John (Ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Political Elites. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 439–457. doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-51904-7_28. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Elite Compromise as a Mode of Institutional Change: The United States and Norway Compared. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 363–388. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-018. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Social Institutions and the Quality of Democracy. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 22–47. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-003. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Byrkjeflot, Haldor (2018). Introduction: Bureaucracy in transition. In Byrkjeflot, Haldor & Engelstad, Fredrik (Ed.), Bureaucracy and Society in Transition: Comparative Perspectives. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. p. 1–11. doi: 10.1108/s0195-631020180000033005. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). CHEF/Chief. In Stene-Johansen, Knut; Refsum, Christian & Schimanski, Johan (Ed.), Living Together – Roland Barthes, the Individual and the Community. Transcript Verlag. p. 125–134. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). A power elite in the cultural field. A story of Norwegian neo-corporatism. International Journal of Cultural Policy. 23(5), p. 527–544. doi: 10.1080/10286632.2015.1084297. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). Strategic Communication and Institutional Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). Introduction: The Public Sphere in Change. Institutional Perspectives on Neo-corporatist Society. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 1–21. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-002. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon & Rogstad, Jon (2017). The Public Sphere in the Nordic Model. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 46–70. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-004. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2016). CHEF/Leder. In Stene-Johansen, Knut; Refsum, Christian & Schimanski, Johan Henrik (Ed.), Å leve sammen. Roland Barthes, individet og fellesskapet. Spartacus. p. 154–166. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2016). Welfare states - India and Scandinavia. Social Rights, Decommodification, Democracy. In Törnquist, Olle & Harriss, John (Ed.), Reinventing Social Democratic Development. Insights from Indian and Scandinavian Comparisons. NIAS Press. p. 212–237. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2016). Makt og demokrati. To utkast til samfunnsforståelse. In Frønes, Ivar & Kjølsrød, Lise (Ed.), Det norske samfunn, bind 2. Gyldendal Akademisk. p. 87–111. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). The enigma of capitalism - Beyond human power II and John Gabriel Borkman. Bjørnstjere Bjørnson and Henrik Ibsen as critics of capitalism. Nordlit. 34, p. 115–127. doi: 10.7557/13.3358. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Offentlighet og strategisk kommunikasjon. Tidsskrift for samfunnsforskning (TfS). p. 387–418. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hagelund, Anniken & Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Introduction: Institutional Change in Neo- Corporatist Society. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 1–16. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-002. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Property Rights, Governance, and Power Balances. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 36–55. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-004. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Conflict, Compromise, Cooperation Concluding Reflections. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 282–292. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-016. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2014). Elite compromise, crisis and democracy: The United States, Norway and Italy compared. In Best, Heinrich & Higley, John (Ed.), Political elites in the transatlantic crisis. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 138–154. doi: 10.1057/9781137345752_8. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2014). Kronglete stier - lysning i sikte? Argumenter for en ny-weberiansk maktforståelse. In Claes, Dag Harald; Heidar, Knut & Holst, Cathrine (Ed.), Politikk i grenseland - Festskrift til Øyvind Østerud. Universitetsforlaget. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2014). Om forholdet mellom politikk og kunnskap. In Winkelmann, Annette & Johansson, Marit (Ed.), Kulturrikets tilstand 2013 : konferanserapport. Telemarksforsking. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2013). Kunstens makt? Tingenes makt? En refleksjon over virkninger av tekster og bilder. Tidsskrift for kulturforskning. p. 23–38. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2013). Forstillelse og forførelse. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnsons "Èn dag". In Bliksrud, Liv; D'Amico, Giuliano; Wulfsberg, Marius & Åslund, Arnfinn (Ed.), Den Engasjerte kosmopolitt : nye Bjørnson-studier. Novus Forlag. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2012). The sociology of power. In Aakvaag, Gunnar Colbjørnsen; Jacobsen, Michael Hviid & Johansson, Thomas (Ed.), Introduction to Sociology. Scandinavian Sensibilities. Prentice-Hall. p. 58–80. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2012). Limits to state intervention into the private sector economy: aspects of property rights in social democratic societies. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Teigen, Mari (Ed.), Firms, Boards and Gender Quotas: Comparative Perspectives. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. p. 235–265. doi: 10.1108/s0195-6310(2012)0000029012. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2012). Samfunn, demokrati og makt. In Dahlgren, Kenneth & Næss, Hans Erik (Ed.), Tanker om samfunn. Universitetsforlaget. p. 130–153. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Teigen, Mari (2012). Introduction: Gender and Varieties of Economic Power – The Significance of Family and State. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Teigen, Mari (Ed.), Firms, Boards and Gender Quotas: Comparative Perspectives. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. doi: 10.1108/s0195-6310(2012)0000029004. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2012). Likestilling og lønnsomhet: Hva vet vi om økonomiske virkninger av kjønnskvotering til ASA-styrer? Søkelys på arbeidslivet. 29(3), p. 258–274. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2012). Michel Foucault som galskapens arkeolog. In Gilbert, Sidsel Kari; Stänicke, Erik & Engelstad, Fredrik (Ed.), Psyke, kultur og samfunn: Perspektiver på indre og ytre virkelighet. Abstrakt forlag. p. 229–246. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2011). Kan kjønnskvotering i næringslivet forsvares? : en normativ analyse. Tidsskrift for kjønnsforskning. 35, p. 120–140. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2011). The Assignment of Political Office by Lot. In Stone, Peter (Eds.), Lotteries in Public Life. A Reader. Imprint Academic. p. 177–200. doi: 10.1177/053901889028001002. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2010). Henrik Ibsen: The power of charisma. In Edling, Christoffer & Rydgren, Jens (Ed.), Sociological insights of great thinkers. Sociology through literature, philosophy, and science. Praeger. p. 95–103. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2010). Makt - konsentrasjon og fordeling. In Frønes, Ivar & Kjølsrød, Lise (Ed.), Det norske samfunn. Gyldendal Akademisk. p. 164–190. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hansen, Marianne Nordli & Engelstad, Fredrik (2010). Samfunnsklasser og eliter. In Frønes, Ivar & Kjølsrød, Lise (Ed.), Det norske samfunn. Gyldendal Akademisk. p. 191–213. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2010). Rom med utsikt. Om å studere samfunnets toppsjikt. In Album, Dag; Hansen, Marianne Nordli & Widerberg, Karin (Ed.), Metodene våre. Eksempler fra samfunnsvitenskapelig forskning. Universitetsforlaget. p. 173–188. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2009). Børs og katedral. In Bastiansen, Henrik G.; Hagtvet, Bernt; Hjeltnes, Guri; Lundby, Knut & Rønning, Helge (Ed.), Det Elegante uromoment : Hans Fredrik Dahl og offentligheten : festskrift på 70-årsdagen. Pax Forlag. p. 196–210. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2009). The self-made woman. Om blondiner, kjønn og makt. Tidsskrift for kjønnsforskning. 33(3), p. 194–209. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2009). Challenges to democracy: fairness and participation. In Cherkaoui, Mohamed & Hamilton, Peter (Ed.), Raymond Boudon: A Life in Sociology. Essays in honour of Raymond Boudon. Bardwell Press. p. 329–346. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2009). Culture and power. In Clegg, Stewart R. & Haugaard, Mark (Ed.), The SAGE Handbook of Power. Sage Publications. p. 210–238. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2009). Democratic elitism - conflict and consensus. Comparative Sociology. 8(3), p. 383–401. Full text in Research Archive
  • Griswold, Wendy & Engelstad, Fredrik (2008). State Patronage in Norway and the U.S. In Griswold, Wendy (Eds.), Regionalism and the Reading Class. University of Chicago Press. p. 128–159. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2008). Social conventions and the dialectics of recognition: Power and culture in Shakesepare and Ibsen. Journal of Power. 1(2), p. 143–156. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2007). Introduction: Social and Political Elites in Modern Democracies. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens (Ed.), Comparative Studies of Social and Political Elites. Elsevier. p. 1–9. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2006). Demokratisk kapitalisme - er det mulig? In Engelstad, Fredrik; Lange, Even; Pharo, Helge & Rudeng, Erik (Ed.), Demokratisk konservatisme. Pax Forlag. Full text in Research Archive
  • Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens & Engelstad, Fredrik (2005). "Elite consensus on the Norwegian welfare state model". West European Politics. 28(4), p. 899–919. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Østerud, Øyvind (2004). Democracy and Power. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Østerud, Øyvind (Ed.), Power and Democracy. Critical Interventions. Ashgate. p. 1–10. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2004). Economic Democracy - Does it Make Sense in the 21st Century? In Engelstad, Fredrik & Østerud, Øyvind (Ed.), Power and Democracy. Critical Interventions. Ashgate. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2004). Er det makt i de lyttende ører? Om brutte dialoger og åpne rom. In Frønes, Ivar & Wetlesen, Tone Schou (Ed.), Dialog, selv og samfunn. Abstrakt forlag. p. 233–249. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Meyer, Siri; Selle, Per; Skjeie, Hege & Østerud, Øyvind (2003). Makt og demokrati. Sluttrapport fra Makt- og demokratiutredningen. NOU - Norges offentlige utredninger. p. 1–100. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hansen, Marianne Nordli & Engelstad, Fredrik (2003). Samfunnsklasser og klasseteorier, Det norske samfunn. p. 154–183. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hansen, Marianne Nordli & Engelstad, Fredrik (2003). Samfunnsklasser og eliter, Det norske samfunn. p. 191–211. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2003). National Literature, Collective Identity and Political Power. Comparative Social Research. 21, p. 111–145. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2003). Frihet, adel, livskall. Henrik Ibsen som kritiker av demokratiet. Sosiologi i dag. 33(3), p. 33–49. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens; Midtbøen, Arnfinn Haagensen & Teigen, Mari (2022). Eliter i endring : Makt, demokrati, representasjon. Universitetsforlaget. 360 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens; Mangset, Marte & Teigen, Mari (2019). Elites and people: Challenges to democracy. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (2018). Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. 403 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Byrkjeflot, Haldor & Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Bureaucracy and Society in Transition: Comparative Perspectives. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 308 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. 269 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (2015). Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. 298 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Gilbert, Sidsel Kari; Stänicke, Erik & Engelstad, Fredrik (2012). Psyke, kultur og samfunn: Perspektiver på indre og ytre virkelighet. Abstrakt forlag. 406 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Teigen, Mari (2012). Firms, Boards and Gender Quotas: Comparative Perspectives. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 265 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2010). Maktens uttrykk. Kulturforståelse som maktanalyse. Universitetsforlaget. 352 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kalleberg, Ragnvald; Malnes, Raino Sverre & Engelstad, Fredrik (2009). Samfunnsvitenskapenes oppgaver, arbeidsmåter og grunnlagsproblemer. (Særtrykk av 5 kapitler fra bok publisert i 2005). Gyldendal Akademisk. 150 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens (2007). Comparative Studies of Social and Political Elites. Elsevier. 286 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2006). Demokratisk konservatisme. Pax Forlag. 519 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Lange, Even; Pharo, Helge & Rudeng, Erik (2006). Demokratisk konservatisme. Pax Forlag. 519 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Asgeirsdottir, Kristin; Engelstad, Fredrik & Simonsen, Ditte Maja (2005). Demokrati og engagement : paradokser i de nordiske demokratier. Nordisk Råd. 177 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2005). Hva er makt. Universitetsforlaget. 158 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Grenness, Carl-Erik; Kalleberg, Ragnvald & Malnes, Raino Sverre (2005). Introduksjon til samfunnsfag. Vitenskapsteori, argumentasjon og faghistorie. Gyldendal Akademisk. 496 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Østerud, Øyvind (2004). Power and Democracy. Critical Interventions. Ashgate. 248 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Ekberg, Espen; Gulbrandsen, Trygve Jens & Vatnaland, Jon (2003). Næringslivet mellom marked og politikk. Gyldendal Akademisk. 305 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Ødegård, Guro (2003). Ungdom, makt og mening. Gyldendal Akademisk. 422 p. Full text in Research Archive

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  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2003). National regimes of collective bargaining in transformation: Nordic trends in a comparative perspective. Makt- og demokratiutredningen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Dølvik, Jon Erik & Engelstad, Fredrik (2003). National regimes of collective bargaining in transformation: Nordic trends in a comparative perspective. Makt og demokratiutredningen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2003). Olje og Makt. Makt- og demokratiutredningen. Full text in Research Archive
  • Østerud, Øyvind; Engelstad, Fredrik; Meyer, Siri; Selle, Per & Skjeie, Hege (2003). Makt og demokrati. Sluttrapport fra Makt- og Demokratiutredningen. Norges offentlige utredninger. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

View all works in NVA

Published May 31, 2017 1:02 PM - Last modified June 30, 2026 3:09 PM