The Nordic Model: Scandinavia since 1945

by Mary Hilson

The political structures of the Scandinavian nations have long stood as models for government and public policy. This comprehensive study examines how that “Nordic model” of government developed, as well as its far-reaching influence.


            Respected Scandinavian historian Mary Hilson surveys the political bureaucracies of the five Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—and traces their historical influences and the ways they have changed, individually and as a group, over time. The book investigates issues such as economic development, foreign policy, politics, government, and the welfare state, and it also explores prevailing cultural perceptions of Scandinavia in the twentieth century. Hilson then turns to the future of the Nordic region as a unified whole within Europe as well as in the world, and considers the re-emergence of the Baltic Sea as a pivotal region on the global stage.


            The Nordic Model offers an incisive assessment of Scandinavia yesterday and today, making this an essential text for students and scholars of political science, European history, and Scandinavian studies.
 

Genres: Politics, Economics, Nonfiction, History, Sociology, Political Science, Sweden

234 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2007

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about the "Nordic model" of politics and welfare, maybe a bit too academic but readable. For someone who lived in Stockholm, quite interesting to understand the differences between the 5 Nordic countries, the Atlantic-facing ones and the more neutral ones, how all of them went through World War II, how neutral and just Sweden also has a few skeletons in the closet (namely letting Nazi troops pass through its territory to reach Norway, and using eugenics to sterilize minorities in the 40s). It's also enlightening to understand how the post-war development resulted in the fairly equalitarian societies we see today, but also how their relatively open doors to refugees for much of the 90s led to the more recent emergence of populist "closed-door" movements. The Nordic model of welfare might still be something to aspire to, but it's important to understand how they came about and might not be easily transferable to someplace else.

[Emmett Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've more or less always understood that Scandinavia is known for its progressivism and democracy. Norway has consistently ranked #1 on the world democracy index. Growing up in the United States (and having lived through the past half-decade or so), I often found myself wondering how we got here. In fact, why is the U.S.' politics and government so fundamentally messed up in the first place? What does a true, high-functioning and effective democracy look like?

This book outlines just that. Written as an academic book, it details the history, culture, economics and politics of Scandinavia (and the respective countries thereof) since 1945. Yet it is written in a style that is readable and engaging; there were only a few times during which I had to really push myself to get through a section or chapter.

A good deal of time is spent describing the relationships between the respective Nordic countries and their differences in policy and culture. The welfare state is one of the most consistent themes, and a key part of the Nordic model; thus, its function and role throughout the region is described in detail.

While its analysis of political and social issues is broad and thorough, I wish more time was dedicated to further detailing both the economic and political systems of the countries. Topics such as fair wealth distribution and taxes, universal healthcare, proportional representation, the numerous political parties that make up the respective parliaments (and how they differ) - in essence, everything that we don't have in the U.S.

Nonetheless, if you're looking for a detailed, academic text about the region as a whole, look no further.

[Jake M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nordic Model is a succinct examination of the economic, social, political and cultural facets that comprise the structural institutional foundations of Nordic nations. Hilson discusses how this region created and sustained social democracy in a piecemeal rather the collaborative way, and that the current welfare state model was not inevitable or static. Rather, the model is a series of mostly borrowed ideas of governance with Sweden being the main source. Significant attention is given to differences among nations such as Finland and Iceland, each nation's reluctance to join formal alliances with each other, and aversion to membership in organizations such as the EU or NATO. Chapters are tightly organized with summarizing conclusions. That said, the book would benefit from an updated edition to encompass the 2008 economic fallout and rise of the far-right. This is a well-balanced and insightful academic work on Scandinavia.

[Johan Rehnstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few points of concern for me:
(i) The Nordic countries are very different from other parts of the world, evidenced by the world value survey. I think the author should have explained that, as I think it is very important when it comes to immigration to the Nordic. One detail in the description of the Nordic countries is the absence of legal structures centered in family groups, or clans (see more below).
(ii) The book should be updated based on what has happened since 2008: large immigration of clan based Muslim communities from the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, the decline of democracy globally, the management of the Covid-19 flu from Wuhan in China, etc.
(iii) the author's left wing attitude becomes obvious at times, e.g. when she writes about racism. There is a connection here to my second point above. An analysis of what has been happening in Sweden over the last several years indicates that there is also an ongoing reversed racism in the groups that have immigrated to e.g. Sweden.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is a nice overview of the nordics, but I felt like some pieces were missing or downplayed, such as the role of state owned enterprises, the power of Norway’s wealth fund, and the full extent of Olof Palme’s role in international solidarity.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good deep dive into the Scandinavian countries and if the "Third Way" really exists. I did find it somewhat hard to follow along at different points, but all together I understood everything Hilson was saying and I think she made some great points.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good introduction into how the Nordic Model was created and how it functions today. A very easy read if you are interested in the subject.

[Ostap · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit better than the previous book I reviewed, but plagued with the same problem: too many words, not enough details.
3+

[Alexander Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was shott and consise and focused more on the historical perspective of the nordic model than the contemporary. Since the book focused on the history of each nation in the nordic model and scandanavi as a whole there were few specifics provided about the model. I didn't really learn much about the model besides its history so it wasn't really what i was looking for.

[Sjonni · Rating 4 out of 5]

More accessable than it looks. Hilson smoothly summarizes the post-war changes in the nordic states and investigates the differences between the various sovereignties. An excellent starting point for further research.