The Nordic Model is the 20th-century Scandinavian recipe for
combining stable democracies, individual freedom, economic growth
and comprehensive systems for social security. But what happens
when Sweden and Finland - two countries topping global indexes for
competitiveness, productivity, growth, quality of life, prosperity,
and equality - start doubting themselves and their future? Is the
Nordic Model at a crossroads? Historically, consensus, continuity,
social cohesion, and broad social trust have been hailed as key
components for the success and for the self-images of Sweden and
Finland. In the contemporary, however, political debates in both
countries are increasingly focused on risks, threats, and worry.
Social disintegration, political polarization, geopolitical
anxieties, and threat of terrorism are often dominant themes. This
book focuses on what appears to be a paradox: countries with low
income differences, high faith in social institutions, and
relatively high cultural homogeneity becoming fixated on the fear
of polarization, disintegration, and diminished social trust.
Unpacking the presentist discourse of "worry" and a sense of
interregnum at the face of geopolitical tensions, digitalization,
and globalization, as well as challenges to democracy, the chapters
take steps back in time and explore the current conjecture through
the eyes of historians and social scientists, addressing key
aspects of and challenges to both the contemporary and future
Nordic Model. In addition, the functioning and efficacy of the
participatory democracy and current protocols of decision-making
are debated. This work is essential reading for students and
scholars of the welfare state, social reforms, and populism, as
well as Nordic and Scandinavian studies. The Open Access version of
this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made
available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No
Derivatives 4.0 license.
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