The Making and Circulation of Nordic Models: An Introduction

The chapter introduces to the vision of the book: The making and circulation of Nordic models, ideas, and images. 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. Using original case studies, the chapters examines 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. Our answer to the question ‘what is the Nordic model?’ is fairly simple: It is an empirical question that we need to answer through historical-empirical investigations.