Film: ’What is the Nordic Model?’ with Professor Mary Hilson

The Nordic Model is used in all sorts of contexts, ranging from the disposal of nuclear waste to the management of prostitution. In 2013 The Economist magazine described the Nordic countries as ‘the world’s next supermodel’ largely due to the economic flexibility and dynamism of these five countries. However, the Nordic Model is perhaps most associated with the social democracy of the 1950s and 1960s, and the region’s special status between east and west during the Cold War.

Join Professor Mary Hilson of Aarhus University and author of the popular book ‘The Nordic Model: Scandinavia since 1945’ in this short film as she discusses possible answers to the question ‘What is the Nordic model?’.

If you are interested in some of the topics mentioned in the film, you may like to choose one of the following links:

• The Nordic Model Theme Page
• The Nordic Labour Markets Theme Page
• The Nordic 'model' of capitalism
• Nordic social democratic parties during the twentieth century
• The Nordic welfare state: staying fit-for-purpose

Further reading:

• Mary Hilson, The Nordic Model: Scandinavia since 1945 (London: Reaktion, 2008).
• David Arter, Scandinavian Politics Today (Manchester: Manchester University Press, third edition 2015).
• N Brandal, Ø Bratberg, D Thorsen, The Nordic Model of Social Democracy (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013).
• Eric S Einhorn and John Logue, Modern Welfare States: Scandinavian Politics and Policy in the Global 

External links:

• Aarhus University project: Nordic model(s) in the global circulation of ideas, 1970-2020 (grant number 8018-000238)
• 7-minute YouTube video by the Economist: Special report: The Nordic countries