Since the 1930s, the Nordic countries have been in the international spotlight as examples of a unique model of society that combines social security and individual freedom. ‘The Nordic Model’ refers both to the social systems that developed in the Nordic countries in the 20th century and to the notion of the ideal society and its values. While the model enjoys strong popular support, its legitimacy has also been challenged – both historically and in the present day – with questions about its economic sustainability and whether it curbs individual freedom under the guise of humanism and progress.
The project is based on the premise that across the historical variations of the Nordic model and the debate about its pros and cons, there is a fundamental problem in the relationship between the state and the individual. The Nordic model seeks to strike a balance between the state’s role as coordinator and the citizen’s ability to live their lives freely with the ideals of universalism, inclusion, equality and equity.
Research focus
The project will explore the relationship between the state and the individual through three focal points:
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These focal points will be examined from a humanistic perspective to sharpen the understanding of the balance between freedom and state control in the Nordic model, both historically and going forward.
Project goals
The project contributes to analysing the Nordic model in terms of current and future challenges and opportunities. In contrast to quantitative studies, we take a qualitative and interdisciplinary critical humanistic approach. The focus will be on the relationship between the individual and the state to understand historical and current balances and imbalances.
Methodology
The project is interdisciplinary, investigative and involves historical, cultural and political analyses. We use a wide range of sources, from legal texts, statistics and political debates to different genres of fiction. This will ensure original analyses of the interaction between political, cultural and civic levels.
The team
The project is carried out by six senior researchers from SDU and UCPH with complementary expertise:
- Klaus Petersen: Historian with an interdisciplinary profile in Danish/Nordic history in the 20th century.
- Karen Vallgårda: Cultural historian with an academic profile in Danish and Nordic family history and emotional history.
- Anne-Marie Mai: Literary historian and cultural researcher specialising in Nordic literary research, particularly in terms of the relationship between literature and society.
- Niklas Olsen: Conceptual historian and historian of ideas with expertise in the history of consumerism, neo-liberalism and most recently green transition.
- Tue Andersen Nexø: Literary scholar specialising in Nordic literature and the utopian tradition.
- Heidi Vad Jønsson: Contemporary historian specialising in Danish and Nordic immigration and refugee history, as well as the history of state monopolies.
Perspectives and agenda
Through interdisciplinary analysis and methodological innovation, the project contributes to a deeper understanding of the core values and legitimacy of the Nordic model. By combining historical and cultural analyses, we shed light on the dynamics that shape the relationship between the individual and the state, creating a nuanced insight into the challenges and potentials that the Nordic model faces in the 21st century.
The overall purpose is to enrich the public debate on the future of our societies in a changing world and support the development of a sustainable and legitimate Nordic model.