At the start of the year, Uppsala University’s Hugo Valentin-centrum was renamed Uppsala centrum för Förintelse- och folkmordsstudier (Uppsala Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies), sparking significant public backlash.
The name change has been widely criticized in major Swedish outlets such as Uppsala Nya Tidning, Dagens Nyheter, and Barometern. Critics argue that the decision diminishes the center’s historical connection to its Jewish roots.
A Center with Jewish Heritage
The original name honored Hugo Valentin, a renowned history professor at Uppsala University and a key Jewish figure in Sweden from the 1930s onward. Valentin was one of the first Swedes to write about the Holocaust.
“Removing such a name almost overnight sends a very negative signal,” said Aron Verständig, chairman of the Jewish Central Council (Judiska centralrådet). “Especially in times of rising antisemitism and global uncertainty.”
University: A Matter of Clarity
According to Erik Lindberg, professor at Uppsala University’s Department of History (Historiska institutionen), the decision was carefully considered and aimed at enhancing clarity.
“By including the terms ‘Holocaust’ (Förintelse) and ‘genocide’ (folkmord) in the center’s name, it becomes clearer what the focus is,” said Lindberg. “This, we believe, strengthens the Jewish perspective in our work and benefits all research, as well as those interested in Holocaust studies. The new name is more explicit.”
A Broader Debate
The controversy highlights the tension between preserving historical legacies and adapting for contemporary academic clarity. However, the question remains whether this name change will succeed in fostering inclusivity—or deepen divisions.