The Scandinavian Experience
Summer school, Aarhus University-Gothenburg University
17 July-7 August 2013
Program
With the concept of “The Scandinavian model” as theoretical point of departure, this course provides an overview of modern history, politics and society of the Scandinavian countries. The course also offers thematic depth into topics of specific relevance to comprehend “The Scandinavian model” (“Nordic model”) as a concept. These topics include humane internationalism, welfare system and social capital, governance and democracy, equality and gender politics, transparency and corruption, and green politics. The course will look into the creation, development and functioning of the Scandinavian/Nordic model. It will also present its current challenges and discuss in what ways this model is, or has been, unique compared to other models of society. The course is divided into three week modules. The first two weeks takes place in Aarhus in Denmark, and the third and final week takes place in Göteborg in Sweden.
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Week One 17. July to 22. July (Aarhus University, organized by Department of Culture and Society and professor Thorsten Borring Olesen)
In the first week the course will treat the Scandinavian experience in its historical and international setting. It will outline how Scandinavia has developed from a region characterized by constant inter-Scandinavian warfare in the 16th to 18th centuries to one of peaceful competition and corporation. During this week the course will also introduce the concept the Scandinavian model/Nordic model by discussing how it was created and what it contains. The remaining part of week one will be dedicated to modern Scandinavian international politics. It highlights the Scandinavian experience, under the heading of humane internationalism, in the context of the United Nations and as development aid donors and the complex and entangled relationship of Scandinavia with the process of European integration. Scandinavia’s crucial tradition for involvement in Greenland and the Arctic region is addressed also.
Wednesday 17.7.: 9-14: An introduction to Scandinavian history.
Literature.: Hilson, pp. 11-24; Wendt, pp. 11-30; Østergård, pp 25-43.
9.00-9.30: Welcome and course presentation by Prof. Thorsten B. Olesen
9.30-10.45: Scandinavian history past and present, lecture prof. Thorsten B. Olesen
10.45-11.45: Danish Path to Modernity, seminar with prof. Thorsten B. Olesen
11.45-12.30: Lunch
12.30-14.00: Nordic regional cooperation, guest lecture by Dr. Johan Strang, Centrum for Nordic Studies (Helsinki)
Thursday 18.7.: 9-14: Introduction to the concept The Scandinavian/Nordic model
Literature: Hilson, pp. 25-115; Browning, pp 27-51; The Economist, 2. Feb. 2013.
9.00-11.00: The creation of the Nordic Model(s), seminar with professor Thorsten B. Olesen
11.00-12.15: Group work based on Browning and The Economist
12.15-13.00: Lunch
13.00-14.00: Discussion of group work with prof. Thorsten B. Olesen
Friday 19.7.: 9-14: Scandinavia in the world - Humane internationalism
Literature: Ann-Marie Ekengren & Norbert Götz: 39 pp.; Carol Lancaster, 190-211; Hallvard Svenbalrud, pp. 75-110.
9.00.-11.00: guest lecture?
11.00-12.00: seminar
12.00-12.45: Lunch
12.45-14.00: seminar with prof. Thorsten B. Olesen
Monday 22.7.: 9-14: Scandinavia in the world – Scandinavia and European integration
Literature: Thorsten Borring Olesen, (2000), pp. 147-168; Thorsten Borring Olesen (2011), pp. 35-48: Carsten Schymik, pp. 201-215.
9.00-11.00: Scandinavia and European integration: A difficult relationship, lecture by prof. Thorsten B. Olesen.
11.00-12.00: Group work: EU-skepticism in Scandinavia
12.00-12.45: Lunch
12.45-14.00: Discussion of group work
Tuesday 23.7.: 9-14: Scandinavia in the world – Scandinavia, Greenland and the Arctic
Literature: Thorsten Borring Olesen (2011), 31 pp.; Nikolaj Petersen, 2009, pp. 35-78: 43 pp.
9.00-10.45: Greenland, Denmark and the United States 1918-1989, lecture by prof. Thorsten Borring Olesen
10.45.-11.45: working with source material hand-out.
11.45-12.30: Lunch
12.30-14.00: Guest lecture?: Scandinavia and the new scramble for the Arctic.
Literature
Christopher S. Browning: “Branding Nordicity: Models, Identity and the Decline of Exceptionalism”, Cooperation and Conflict, Vol. 42(1) 2007, pp. 27-51: 24 pp. (D)
The Economist, “The Nordic Countries: The Next Supermodel”, feb. 2 2013, Special Report: The Nordic Countries: download from: http://www.economist.com/printedition/2013-02-02 (C)
Ann-Marie Ekengren & Norbert Götz: “The One Per Cent Country: Sweden’s Internalization of the Aid Norm, in: T.B. Olesen, H. Pharo & K. Paaskesen (eds.), Saints and Sinners. Foreign Policy and the Dynamics of Aid-Giving in a Historical and Comparative Context (Academica Oslo, forthcoming 2013): 39 pp. (B)
Mary Hilson, The Nordic Model. Scandinavia since 1945 (London 2008): 234 pp. (A)
Carol Lancaster, “Denmark: The Humane Internationalist”, in C. Lancaster, Foreign Aid. Diplomacy, Development and Domestic Politics, (Chicago 2007), pp. 190-211. (D)
Thorsten Borring Olesen, “Choosing or Refuting Europe? The Nordic Countries and European Integration”, Scandinavian Journal of History, Vol. 25(1-2) (2000), pp. 147-168: 21 pp. (D)
Thorsten Borring Olesen, “A Nordic Sonderweg to Europe? Integration History form a Northern Perspective”, in: H. Høibraaten & J. Hille (eds.), Northern Europe and the Future of the EU (Berlin 2011), pp. 35-48: 13 pp. (B)
Thorsten Borring Olesen, “Tango for Thule. The Dilemmas and Limits to “the Neither Confirm nor Deny Doctrine” in the Danish-American Relationship, 1957-1968”, in Journal of Cold War Studies, vol 12(3) 2011, pp. 116-147, 31 pp. (D)
Nikolaj Petersen, “The Arctic as a New Arena for Danish Foreign Policy: The Ilulissat Initiative and its implications, in Dansish Foreign Policy Yearbook 2009, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS – Copenhagen) 2009, pp. 35-78. Download from: http://www.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/Books2009/Yearbook2009/Yearbook_2009_web.pdf: 43 pp. (C)
Carsten Schymik, “Anti-EU movements and EU cooperation”, in: N. Götz & H. Haggrén, Regional Cooperation and International Organizations. The Nordic model in transnational alignment, (London 2009); pp. 201-215: 14 pp. (B)
Hallvard Svenbalrud, Foundations and Ornament. The United Nations as “Cornerstone of Norwegian Foreign Policy”, 1970-2005, PhD-thesis, Oslo University 2011, chapter 4, pp. 75-110: 35 pp. (B)
Frantz Wendt, Cooperation in the Nordic Countries (Stockholm 1981), pp. 11-30: 19 pp. (B)
Uffe Østergård, “The Danish Path to Modernity”, in Thesis Eleven 2004 77: pp. 25-43 18 pp.. (D)
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Week 2 (Aarhus University, organized by the Department of Political Science/Carsten Jensen & Gert Tinggaard Svendsen)
Week 2 will focus on two interrelated topics. The first is the welfare state – one of the most characteristic features of Scandinavia. The welfare states are big and very popular. But how are the Scandinavian welfare states organized more precisely and how do they meet the challenges from the economic crises that have appeared during the last years? The second topic is immigration. The Scandinavian countries are ethnically homogenous and some of the most interesting and important political issues therefore relate to the question of how to integrate the increasing number of immigrants that are coming to Scandinavia. In what ways is immigration affecting the Scandinavian societies and welfare states?
Wednesday 24.7.: The Design of the Scandinavian Welfare state
9.00-10.00: Lecture
10.00-12.00: Group work with supervision
12.00-13.00: Lunch
13.00-14.00: Seminar
14.00-15.00: Preparation of student presentation for tomorrow
· Esping-Andersen, Gøsta (1990). Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, Cambridge: Polity Press, pp. 1-34. (35) B
· Korpi, Walter & Joakim Palme (1998). “The Paradox of Redistribution and Strategies of Equality”, American Sociological Review, vol. 63, no. 5, pp. 661-687. (27) D
· Rothstein, Bo (1996). “The Moral Logic of the Universal Welfare State”, pp. 98-119 in Erik Oddvar Erikson & Jørn Loftager (eds.). The Rationality of the Welfare State, Oslo: Scandinavian University Press. (22). B
· Christiansen, Niels Finn & Klaus Petersen (2001). “The Dynamics of Social Solidarity: The Danish Welfare State, 1900-2000” in Niels Finn Christiansen & Klaus Petersen (eds.). The Nordic Welfare States 1900-2000, special issue of Scandinavian Journal of History, vol. 26, pp. 177–196. (20) D
Thursday 25.7: Main challenges to the welfare state
9.00-10.00: Student presentations and discussion
10.00-12.00: Group work with supervision
12.00-13.00: Lunch
13.00-14.00: Seminar
14.00-15.00: Preparation of student presentation for tomorrow
· Andersen, Torben (2006). “Ageing and globalisation in the Scandinavian Welfare Model”, Ageing Horizons, no. 4, pp. 6-11. (6) D
· Pierson, Paul. "Irresistible forces, immovable objects: post-industrial welfare states confront permanent austerity." Journal of European Public Policy 5.4 (1998): 539-560. (22 ) D
· OECD: “Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising. An Overview of Growing Income Inequalities in OECD Countries: Main Findings.” (2011). (25) D
Friday 26.7: Recent changes of the Welfare State
9.00-10.00: Student presentations and discussion
10.00-12.00: Group work with supervision
12.00-13.00: Lunch
13.00-14.00: Seminar
14.00-15.00: Preparation of student presentation for Monday
· Green-Pedersen, Christoffer & Michael Baggesen Klitgaard (undated). “Between Economic Constraints and Popular Entrenchment – the Development of the Danish Welfare State 1982 to 2005”, Department of Political Science, University of Aarhus. (23) B
· Green-Pedersen, Christoffer (2001). “Welfare-state Retrenchment in Denmark and the Netherlands 1982-1998. The Role of Party Competition and Party Consensus”, Comparative Political Studies, vol. 34, no. 9, pp. 963-85. (23) D
· Jensen, Carsten. "Issue compensation and right‐wing government social spending." European Journal of Political Research 49.2 (2010): 282-299.(18) D
Monday 29.7: Immigration I: Causes and effects on policies
9.00-10.00: Student presentations and discussion
10.00-12.00: Group work with supervision
12.00-13.00: Lunch
13.00-14.00: Seminar
14.00-15.00: Preparation of student presentation for tomorrow
· Peter Nannestad (2004). “Immigration as a Challenge to the Danish Welfare State”, European Journal of Political Economy vol. 20: 755-767. (13) D
· Peder J. Pedersen (2011). Immigration and Welfare State Cash benefits: The Danish Case. Working paper. (36) B
· Corrado Giulietti et al. (2011). Unemployment Benefits and Immigration: Evidence from the EU. Working paper. (19) B
· Togeby, Lise (2008). “The Political Representation of Ethnic Minorities”, Party Politics, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 325-43. (18) D
Tuesday 30.7: Immigration II: Attitudes and party competition
9.00-10.00: Student presentations and discussion
10.00-12.00: Group work with supervision
12.00-13.00: Lunch
13.00-14.00: Seminar
14.00-15.00: Preparation of student presentation for tomorrow
· Green-Pedersen, Christoffer, and Jesper Krogstrup. "Immigration as a political issue in Denmark and Sweden." European journal of political research 47.5 (2008): 610-634. (25) D
· Jensen, Carsten, and Jens Peter Frølund Thomsen. "Can party competition amplify mass ideological polarization over public policy? The case of ethnic exclusionism in Denmark and Sweden." Party Politics (2011). (21) D
· Schmidt, Alexander, and Dennis C. Spies. "Do Parties “Playing the Race Card” Undermine Support for Welfare? Evidence from Europe." Comparative Political Studies (2013). (32) D
· Frølund Thomsen, Jens Peter. "How does intergroup contact generate ethnic tolerance? The contact hypothesis in a Scandinavian Context." Scandinavian Political Studies 35.2 (2012): 159-178. (20) D
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Week 3 (Gothenburg University, organized by the Department of Political Science/Ulrika Möller)
In the third week the course will explore the Scandinavian experience in its political governance setting, with special focus on the issues corruption, green politics and gender politics. The lectures give special attention to the institutional characteristics of Scandinavian democracy, and the institutional sources to the quality of government produced by the Scandinavian countries. The lectures introduce the Scandinavian experience of green politics, and explore the welfare state from a gender perspective. Each lecture presents issues to address further at thematic work-shops, and the week is concluded with presentations and discussions on the broad themes addressed.
Theme 1: Nordic Democracy in a Comparative Perspective, Jonas Hinnfors
The overarching theme for these two lectures concerns the degree of Nordic uniqueness in terms of various aspects of democratic institutions. We will be looking at features of party systems, executive-legislative relationships, political and social cleavages and major political issues and place these in the context of democratic theory and in relation to other liberal democracies
Thursday 1.8:10-12
Lecture 1: With the purpose to place Nordic democracies in a theoretical framework, this lecture will first introduce some key parameters by which we can classify various types of liberal democracies. Primarily, Arend Lijphart’s terminology will be applied. Lijphart (and others) use a continuum, which at one end is classified as ‘the conflict type of democracy’ and at the other end as ‘the consensual type of democracy’. The second part of this lecture will provide a first broad description of the character of democracy in the Nordic countries in the light of Lijphart’s typology.
Thursday 1.8:14-16
Lecture 2: This lecture will provide insight into several of the key features of Nordic democracy – primarily aspects of party systems, executive-legislative relationships, political and social cleavages, major political issues. Where relevant these features will be compared with other major liberal democracies, e.g. the UK, Germany and France.
Literature:
Arend Lijphart (1989) ‘Democratic Political Systems: Types, Cases, Causes, and Consequences.’ Journal of Theoretical Politics, Vol 1: 33, pp 33-48. (D)
Heidar, Knut (2004) Nordic Politics. Comparative Perspectives. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 310 pp. (A).
Please note, there will be copies of this available to be borrowed at the Department.
Friday 2 August, 9-10
Introductory instructions for the thematic work-shops and final presentations
Theme 2: Transparency and Corruption in Scandinavia, Bo Rothstein
Friday 2.8:10-12
Lecture 1(BR): This lecture gives an historical overview and a comparative perspective to transparency and corruption in Scandinavia. It also provides theoretical foundations to the achievement of quality of government.
Literature:
Rothstein, Bo (2011) The Quality of Government. Chicago and London: Chicago University Press, 285 pp. (A)
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Friday 2.8:13-15
Workshop: Scandinavian Governance and Democracy
Monday 5.8:10-12
Workshop: Scandinavian Quality of Government (Transparency and Corruption)
Theme 3: Scandinavian Environmental Politics in an International Perspective, Ulrika Möller
Monday 5.8:13-15
Lecture: This lecture describes some distinctive features of environmental politics in the Scandinavian countries. It gives a brief historical description and proceeds with focus on the Scandinavian countries in the international climate negotiations. It also discusses the tensions between 1) democracy and sustainable development, and 2) international cooperation and sustainable development, as identified by theory and on basis of the Scandinavian experience.
Literature:
Ingebritsen, Christine (2002) ”Norm Entrepreneurs Scandinavia’s Role in World Politics” Cooperation and Conflict, Vol. 37(1):11-23. (D)
Neumayer, Eric (2002) “Do Democracies Exhibit Stronger Environmental Commitment? A Cross-Country Analysis” Journal of Peace Research, Vol.39(2). (D)
Browning, Christopher (2007): “Branding Nordicity: Models, Identity and the Decline of Exceptionalism”, Cooperation and Conflict, Vol. 42(1): 27-51 (D)
Dimitrov, Radoslav S.(2010) "Inside UN Climate Change Negotiations: The Copenhagen Conference", Review of Policy Research, Vol 27(6): 795-821. (D)
Barret, Scott & Astrid Dannenberg (2012) “Climate Negotiations under Scientific Uncertainty” PNAS, Vol.109(43): 17372-17376. (D)
Theme 4: Gender and the Welfare State, Helena Stensöta
Tuesday 6.8:10-12