Articles
This is a list of all the 'Articles' in the order they were published. Articles present the main facts on a topic clearly and accurately in around 2000 words. They may include discussion of different research trends or major points of difference within current research or opinion. Articles include a summary of the most important points contained in the article. To customise your search, use the 'category' buttons, or the search function.
2020.04.21 | Article, Francesco Zavatti, The Borders of the Nordics, Cooperation, Architecture & design
A short history of the Oresund Bridge
A globally renowned icon, the bridge is in fact part rail/road bridge and part tunnel spanning the Oresund (or ‘The Sound’) between Denmark and Sweden. It was completed in 2000, but it has a rather long and convoluted history. It is a symbol of many and sometimes opposing things: Nordic cooperation in the economy and engineering, as well as the…
2020.03.24 | Article, Frog, Culture, Reputation
Folklore in the Nordic countries
Folklore is a phenomenon found in all cultures. Falling under the umbrella of what is now called ‘intangible cultural heritage’ by UNESCO, it encompasses everything from Finnish improvisational rap and medieval eddic poetry to internet memes or wearing a crown of candles on St Lucia’s day. Nordic folklore research has played a significant role in…
2020.03.19 | Article, Young-Kyu Shin, Petri Böckerman, Research, Public policy, The Nordic Model
Trade union-administered unemployment benefit and precarious workers in Finland
The Nordic countries have some of the highest trade union rates of membership in the world. This has by some been attributed to unemployment insurance being largely administered by trade unions. Since around 1910, unemployment insurance in the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland and Sweden has been based on a voluntary system (‘Ghent’), rather than…
2020.03.02 | Article, Nikolas Glover, The Nordics in the World, Education, Research
Nordic adult educators encounter Tanzanian development in the 1960s and 1970s
In 1962 Sweden was said to be the country with the most extensive correspondence education enrolment per capita in the world. This was explained with reference to its sparse and widespread population with a high level of literacy, an efficient publishing industry and reliable postal services. None of these conditions existed in Tanganyika (renamed…
2020.02.25 | Article, Lizaveta Dubinka-Hushcha, The Nordics in the World, Region-building
An overview of Denmark and its integration with Europe, 1940s to the Maastricht Treaty in 1993
Denmark has been a cautious participant of European supranational integration since the Second World War, evaluating the pros and cons of integration, and making the decision to ‘opt in’ when there were benefits. The driving force behind Denmark's accession to the EEC was the desire to become part of an open European economy, rather than support…
2020.02.21 | Article, Tuuli Veikkanen, The Nordics in the World, Reputation
An introduction to Nordic arms exports since 1990, with a focus on Finland
All Nordic countries, excluding Iceland, have exported weapons to countries involved in armed conflicts or violating human rights during the post-Cold War period. As Nordic countries often speak for peace and humanitarian work in the international arena, their arms exports have repeatedly drawn criticism. However, Nordic countries have also been…
2020.02.14 | Article, Lizaveta Dubinka-Hushcha, The Nordics in the World, Globalisation
Denmark’s relationship with Europe since 2000
Denmark has been characterised by a ‘soft’ type of Euroscepticism. There are multiple institutional safeguards in Denmark to allow for selective participation in European integration, such as, safeguards in its Constitution with respect to delegating power, and a parliamentary committee which has oversight over decisions in Europe. The…
2020.01.28 | Article, Sigrun Marie Moss, The Nordics in the World, Gender
An introduction to Swedish feminist foreign policy
Swedish foreign policy has long been engaged in issues relating to gender. This was cemented in 2014 by the launch of its Feminist Foreign Policy which has been heralded as ground-breaking and the most comprehensive of its kind. It allows for a systematic mainstreaming of gender throughout the whole Foreign Ministry and in all aspects of foreign…
2020.01.23 | Article, Yamila Heram, Media, Research, Nordic Noír
Too good to be true: How Argentinian audiences read Danish drama series
In Argentina, Danish television drama series such as Borgen, The Killing and The Bridge attract a small and dedicated niche audience that is actively on the look out for new content. A 2017 study of 83 Argentinian viewers found that these “intelligent” series featured interesting characters who were well-acted and were about topics that they could…
2020.01.14 | Article, Peter Yding Brunbech, The Nordics in the World, Globalisation
An overview of Danish international development aid, 1960-2010
Denmark has historically been amongst the largest donors of development aid in proportion with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since the middle of the 1970s, the country has been one of the few to live up to the United Nation’s goals for high income countries, that is, to provide at least 0.7% of GDP. In a short period in the 1990s, Denmark…