Johan Galtung fell asleep quietly at Stabekk health center in Bærum on Saturday morning after a period of illness. His son Andreas Galtung tells NTB.
He is regarded as one of the founders of the field of peace research and was the first director of the Institute for Peace Research (PRIO). The institute was established in 1959, and Galtung was head of research before he became director.
Galtung was born on 24 October 1930 in Oslo. In recent years, he has stayed in Spain with his spouse Fumiko Nishimura Galtung. He left behind four children.
– All empires fall. The US empire will fall by 2020. Johan Galtung does not predict, he insists on knowing things about the future. We get a close encounter with the outspoken jubilant one late summer night at his cabin in Jondal in Hardanger. In between morning baths, book writing and blueberry picking, he shares his thoughts on life and the world here.
A long career
Galtung was educated as a mathematician and sociologist from the University of Oslo.
In 1969 he became the world’s first professor of peace and conflict research at the same university, and continued to teach others about the subject until 1977.
He is recognized as a pioneer in peace research, and is behind the term “peace building”.
He has published more than 150 books on peace and conflict research during his life, as well as over 1,000 scientific articles.
He was also interested in peace work outside of work, and has helped to mediate in a number of conflicts.
MEMORIAL AWARD: In 2011, Johan Galtung received the Erik Byes memorial award.
Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / NRK