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Museology has in most parts of the world been, and still is, perceived as a theory of the museum institution itself; the museum as social phenomenon; the museum’s role in society and learning, museum collections and management, etcetera. Parallel to this, particularly in East European countries, museology early came to cover much more. The concept grew larger and included other institutions from the field of heritage, living history and science. Today the concept of museology in these countries covers almost everything that has to do with man’s dealing with time, history, immaterial and material heritage, from large geographical eco-museums and heritage sites to the smallest private enterprise. The chair of museology at Umeå university, Sweden (courses started in 1981 but became a professorship in 1997), defines museology in this very broad sense. Our theoretical standpoint today is  also more critical and can be seen as a parallel to the emerging field of Critical Heritage.

In this paper I will explore the development of museology in Scandinavia and Finland and its early influences from East Europe and France. I will also ponder the seemingly deep “iron curtain” between the Anglo-Saxon and the German-French speaking world of museological or museum research.

In conclusion I will draw up some lines for the development of museology in order to create theoretical resources for museums and heritage enterprises to adapt in their work for a more sustainable future. Some seriously new lines of thinking are needed here.