The first book in the series “Nordic Studies in a Global Context” is a critical and empirically based volume in which the multiple existing Nordic models provide analytically innovative attention to the multitude of circulating ideas, images and experiences referred to as ‘Nordic’. The book ‘Making and Circulation of Nordic Models, Ideas and Images’ addresses related paradoxes as well as patterns of circulation, claims about the exceptionality of Nordic models, and the diffusion and impact of Nordic experiences and ideas.
The vision of the book
The introduction explains the vision of the book: In its original meaning, the Nordic model refers to a middle way between market society and welfare society or capitalism and communism. Since the 1990s, the meaning of the term has moved toward referring to societies that successfully combine competition and cooperation, and efficiency and equality.
Although originally associated with developments in the sphere of socioeconomics, labor, and welfare, the Nordic model has expanded into labeling a diversity of experiences and perspectives in spheres like gender equality, education, daycare, prisons, design, food, and culture.
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Original case studies examining the Nordic models
Using original case studies, the chapters examine how the Nordic models, policy ideas, and cultural images have been constructed, transformed, and circulated in time and space. Historically there has been both positive and negative images and views associated with the terms Swedish, Nordic, or Scandinavian.
The authors’ answer to the question ‘what is the Nordic model?’ is fairly simple: It is an empirical question that need to be explained through historical-empirical investigations.
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The book investigates the actors and channels that have been involved in circulating models: journalists and media, bureaucrats and policy-makers, international organizations, national politicians and institutions, scholars, public diplomats and analyses where and why models have travelled.
Not always Nordic originality
Finally, the book shows that Nordic models, perspectives, or ideas do not always originate in the Nordic region, nor do they always develop as deliberate efforts to promote Nordic interests.
This book will be of key interest to Nordic and Scandinavian studies, European studies, and more broadly to history, sociology, political science, marketing, social policy, organizational theory and public management.
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The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
The authors:
Haldor Byrkjeflot is a Professor at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at University of Oslo, Norway.
Lars Mjøset is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Oslo Summer School for Comparative Social Science Studies at the Social Science Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway.
Mads Mordhorst is Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), and the Director of the Centre for Business History, Denmark.
Klaus Petersen is Professor of Welfare State History at the Danish Centre for Welfare Studies, and Chair of Humanities at the Danish Centre for Advanced Study, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Making and Circulation of Nordic Models, Ideas and Images, based on a newsletter from UiO: Nordic