Uncovering New Perspectives on Nordic Society

Since the start of the podcast series in February, twelve scholars from all over the Nordic countries and the US have been interviewed about their research on key elements of Nordic society, including welfare, education, the Nordic Model and gender.

Many assumptions about the Nordic countries have been upheld throughout the series:  The universal welfare state is a key feature on both the political left and right in the Nordic countries. Children are taught to be independent early on, and there is often a greater focus on how a class functions as whole, rather than on individual achievement compared to other countries. History – as well as contemporary history - is littered with examples of democratic cooperation and collaborative movements. Gender equality is, if not a fully realised in the Nordic countries, at least advanced compared to elsewhere.   

But, many traditional assumptions about the Nordics have also been questioned: There is frequently a mismatch between how the Nordics are represented and what actually happens in the region. Neoliberalism has in fact been embraced by all the Nordic countries, to a greater or lesser extent. Gender inequality still exists, both on paper and in every day life. The region’s microhistories have frequently been overlooked; not only voice from colonial regions and the peripheries of the Nordic region, but also from people caught up in societal battles and policy making which often positions those who ’belong’ against those who do not.

Watch a taster of the last five podcasts here: