Ný saga - 01.01.1988, Page 123

ry down to the 1940’s. In the future the employees of the depart-
ment hope to be able to turn more towards processing the vast
amount of information already collected. Here, Björnsson hopes,
computerisation will prove an indispensable factor in speeding up
processing and making the information more readily available than
before.
Point of View (Sjónarhóll).
Pétur Gunnarsson: From under the Mattress.
(Af rúmbotninum).
The author puts forward the view that lcelandic culture and
language are a heritage which should not just be praised on festive
occasions. He criticises the apathy of those in power and claims
that without a living connection with the past and readily available
funds this heritage will disappear without a trace, leaving lceland-
ers a nation without a past.
Siguröur G. Magnússon
Mentality and Modern Times: the Theory of
Modernisation and Western Societies.
(Hugarfarið og samtíminn.
Framþróunarkenningin og vestræn samfélög).
The author begins by examining the applicability of the modern-
isation theory on Western societies from 1500. He traces the
changes in mentality and social structure and shows the changes
that have taken place in areas such as individualisation, urban-
isation, the disappearance of a community spirit, secularisation,
the growing importance of the nuclear family. The author then turns
to lceland and tries to apply here the theory which fits western
societies so well. His conclusion is that it can only be put to limited
use to explain mental and social development in lceland from the
beginning of industrialisation in the early 20th century. He con-
cludes his argument by calling for a closer examination of lceland-
ic society. Further study may indeed show that lceland has fol-
lowed the pattern of other European societies, but that modern-
isation got off to a later start here and development may not be
completed.
Valdimar Unnar Valdimarsson
The People’s Republic of China and lceland.
Icelandic Position Concerning Membership of
the People’s Republic of China of the United
Nations. (Alþýðulýðveldið og ísland).
The author reviews the lcelandic position concerning the Peo-
ple's Republic of China replacing Formosa as the Chinese repre-
sentative at the United Nations. The lcelandic position up until 1958
was the same as that of other NATO countries. In 1958 the lce-
landic delegation to the UN decided to abstain in a vote on a US
motion to reject the right of the People's Republic to take the seat
occupied by Formosa. This, the author suggests, was due to the
dispute between lceland and Britain over the latter's fishing rights
in lcelandic waters. In 1971 there was a change of government in
lceland, and a left wing government came to power. This led to a
change in the lcelandic position on China and the UN, where
lceland now was in favour of the People's Republic taking the
Chinese seat there. This caused political disputes in lceland and
clearly showed the difference of opinion on world affairs among the
lcelandic political parties. Thus the lcelandic position on matters at
the UN has depended on various external factors, such as the
situation within NATO and the political atmosphere in lceland at
different times since the formation of the UN.
Visual History (Sjón og saga).
Erlendur Sveinsson: lceland in Living Pictures.
(ísland í lifandi myndum).
This is a survey of films that in one way or another relate to
lceland. Sveinsson lists all known documentary films taken in
lceland, both by lcelanders and foreigners, and dramatic films
based on lcelandic material, whether extant or lost. He then
groups them according to content, providing a clear picture of the
kind of cinematographic material there is concerning lceland and
lcelandic history. Finally he discusses the role of the lcelandic Film
Archive, claiming that the Archive has not been given a chance to
fulfill the role intended for it at its foundation.
Þorieifur Óskarsson
Turning Point for Trawling. (Togaraútgerð á
tímamótum).
The article deals with changes in trawler outfitting after the 2nd
World War. Before the war outfitting was chiefly in the hands of
private owners but after 1945 public running of trawlers became
widespread. The author tries to shed light on the reasons for this
change. In 1944 a coalition government of the Independence and
the Socialist parties came to power, the main aim of which was to
secure the foundation of the lcelandic economy. It realised that the
favourable terms of trade lceland had experienced during the war
would soon vanish when the warring nations returned to normal
life. The government therefore decided to use some of the war
profits to purchase new trawlers. Private companies were offered
favourable loans in order to encourage them to buy these trawlers.
The reaction of the private sector, however, was unenthusiastic.
Why? The present author argues that they stayed put because
ready profits did not seem at hand. The private sector seems to
have felt that other more profitable possibilities might open up after
the war, possibilities that did not depend on unstable fish stocks
and markets abroad. Therefore, the author argues, the public
sector was forced to step in when it had become evident that the
private sector could not be trusted to ensure the stability and
continuity necessary to maintain full employment and to secure
continued settlement all around the country.
Leiðrétting
Prentvillupúkinn brá á leik í grein Önnu Agnarsdóttur í
Nýrri sögn 1987. Hann breytti prenturum í presta í tilvísun
tvö á bls. 11. Hið rétta er að það voru enskir prentarar sem
höfðu £90 árslaun um 1800.
Höfundar efnis
Auður G. Magnúsdóttir, f. 1959. Sagnfræðingur.
Árni Björnsson, f. 1932. Þjóðháttafræðingur.
Erlendur Sveinsson, f. 1948. Kvikmyndagerðarmaður.
Gísli Gunnarsson, f. 1938. Hagsögufræðingur.
Gísli Agúst Gunnlaugsson, f. 1953. Sagnfræðingur.
Guðjón Friðriksson, f. 1945. Sagnfræðingur.
Halldór Bjarnason, f. 1959. Sagnfræðingur.
Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson, f. 1953. Stjórnmála-
fræðingur.
Helgi Þorláksson, f. 1945. Sagnfræðingur.
Jón Viðar Sigurðsson, f. 1958. Sagnfræðingur.
Pétur Gunnarsson, f. 1947. Rithöfundur.
Sigurður G. Magnússon, f. 1957. Sagnfræðingur.
Stefán Ólafsson, f. 1953. Félagsfræðingur.
Valdimar Unnar Valdimarsson, f. 1958, d. 21.5.1988.
Sagnfræðingur.
Þorleifur Óskarsson, f. 1958. Sagnfræðingur.
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