Professor in Sociology of Law Thomas Mathiesen Has Passed Away
Thomas Mathiesen, born on 5 October 1933, was one of the founders of sociology of law in Norway. Thomas Mathiesen studied sociology at the University of Wisconsin (1953–55) and defended his doctoral thesis The Defences of the Weak at the University of Oslo in 1965. Mathiesen was appointed professor in sociology of law in 1972. Mathiesen was a member of what has been called the “golden age” in Norwegian sociology. He is particularly known for his research on prisons and abolitionism, and for his academic activism. Mathiesen was one of the founders of KROM – the Norwegian Association for Penal Reform. For more than half a century, Mathiesen was not only a leading intellectual figure in sociology of law and criminology, but also an active participant in public debate. Mathiesen received several awards for his research and activism such as the Denis Carroll award, the Zola Prize for civil courage, and the Norwegian Society of Sociology’s honorary award.
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