K. B. Andersen
Encyclopedia
Knud Børge Andersen, known as K. B. Andersen for short, (1 December 1914 – 23 March 1984) was a Danish
politician
, who served as Danish Minister of Education
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
, and held international offices.
in 1940, worked for Statsradiofonien from 1935 to 1950, and was the headmaster of the "Workers' Folk high school
" in Roskilde
from 1950 to 1957. He entered politics
, and was elected to the Folketing
as a Social Democrat in 1957. He served as a member of the Council of Europe
from 1963 to 1964.
Andersen served as Minister of Education
in the Cabinet of Jens Otto Krag
from 1964 to 1968. As a Minister of Education, Andersen instated the Higher Preparatory Examination (HF)
and abolished corporal punishment
in schools, and turned the scroll
s of the Icelandic sagas back to Iceland
. In 1970, Andersen left the Folketing, but was appointed Foreign Minister
under Jens Otto Krag and later Anker Jørgensen
, from 1971 to 1973 and again from 1975 to 1978. Andersen was acting Prime Minister
when Jens Otto Krag resigned in October 1972, until Anker Jørgensen was appointed new Prime Minister a few days later. By 1973, he had re-entered the Folketing.
As Foreign Minister, Andersen became well know in European foreign affairs circles, and was invited to the Bilderberg Conference
. At a NATO council in December 1972, Andersen received heavy criticism from Sir Alec Douglas-Home
, William P. Rogers
, and NATO's Secretary General, for Denmark's eight percent reduction in their defense budget. This was at a time when the more powerful nations of Europe
were calling for an increase in military spending.
Andersen was President of the European Economic Community Council of Ministers
in 1978. During this time he was involved in the economic sanctions against South Africa
. He ended his tenure in the Folketing in 1981, after serving as its Speaker from 1978 to 1981. He was a critic of Denmark's political system. His belief was that the large number of political parties in Denmark made for political instability and for difficulty in forming coalition government
s.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served as Danish Minister of Education
Education Minister of Denmark
Minister Children and Education of Denmark is a Danish minister office currently held by Christine Antorini .The office was created in 1916 when the post Kultus Minister was split up into the posts of Education Minister and Church Minister...
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Minister of Denmark
The Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs handles Denmark's foreign affairs. The Foreign Minister works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Villy Søvndal.-External links:***...
, and held international offices.
Biography
Andersen finished his degree in political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1940, worked for Statsradiofonien from 1935 to 1950, and was the headmaster of the "Workers' Folk high school
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
" in Roskilde
Roskilde
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network....
from 1950 to 1957. He entered politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, and was elected to the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
as a Social Democrat in 1957. He served as a member of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
from 1963 to 1964.
Andersen served as Minister of Education
Education Minister of Denmark
Minister Children and Education of Denmark is a Danish minister office currently held by Christine Antorini .The office was created in 1916 when the post Kultus Minister was split up into the posts of Education Minister and Church Minister...
in the Cabinet of Jens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag was a Danish politician. He was Prime Minister from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1972....
from 1964 to 1968. As a Minister of Education, Andersen instated the Higher Preparatory Examination (HF)
Higher Preparatory Examination (HF)
The Higher Preparatory Examination is a 2-year general upper secondary programme building on to the 10th form of the Folkeskole and leading to the higher preparatory examination , which qualifies for admission to higher education, subject to the special entrance regulations applying to the...
and abolished corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
in schools, and turned the scroll
Scroll
A scroll is a roll of parchment, papyrus, or paper, which has been drawn or written upon.Scroll may also refer to:*Scroll , the decoratively curved end of the pegbox of string instruments such as violins...
s of the Icelandic sagas back to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. In 1970, Andersen left the Folketing, but was appointed Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister of Denmark
The Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs handles Denmark's foreign affairs. The Foreign Minister works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Villy Søvndal.-External links:***...
under Jens Otto Krag and later Anker Jørgensen
Anker Jørgensen
Anker Jørgensen is a former Danish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. He led or represented the Social Democratic Party for well over 30 years.-Early political and personal life:...
, from 1971 to 1973 and again from 1975 to 1978. Andersen was acting Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
when Jens Otto Krag resigned in October 1972, until Anker Jørgensen was appointed new Prime Minister a few days later. By 1973, he had re-entered the Folketing.
As Foreign Minister, Andersen became well know in European foreign affairs circles, and was invited to the Bilderberg Conference
Bilderberg Group
The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an annual, unofficial, invitation-only conference of approximately 120 to 140 guests from North America and Western Europe, most of whom are people of influence. About one-third are from government and politics, and two-thirds from...
. At a NATO council in December 1972, Andersen received heavy criticism from Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Alec Douglas-Home
Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
, William P. Rogers
William P. Rogers
William Pierce Rogers was an American politician, who served as a Cabinet officer in the administrations of two U.S. Presidents in the third quarter of the 20th century.-Early Life :...
, and NATO's Secretary General, for Denmark's eight percent reduction in their defense budget. This was at a time when the more powerful nations of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
were calling for an increase in military spending.
Andersen was President of the European Economic Community Council of Ministers
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national...
in 1978. During this time he was involved in the economic sanctions against South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He ended his tenure in the Folketing in 1981, after serving as its Speaker from 1978 to 1981. He was a critic of Denmark's political system. His belief was that the large number of political parties in Denmark made for political instability and for difficulty in forming coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s.
Further reading
- Maxen, Arsenio, "10 år med K.B. Andersen, 1972-82", Thise, 1983, ISBN 87-88259-08-0