Egalitarianism in Scandinavia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (Approaches to Social Inequality and Difference)

"This book discusses egalitarianism in Scandinavian countries through historically oriented and empirically based studies on social and political change. The chapters engage with issues related to social class, political conflict, the emergence of the welfare state, public policy, and conceptualizations of equality. Throughout, the contributors discuss and sometimes challenge existing notions of the social and cultural complexity of Scandinavia. For example, how does egalitarianism in these nations differ from other contemporary manifestations of egalitarianism? Is it meaningful to continue to nurture the idea of Scandinavian exceptionalism in an age of economic crises and globalization? The book also proposes that egalitarianism is not merely a relationship between specific, influential enlightenment ideas and patterns of policy, but an aspect of social organization characterized by specific forms of political tension, mobilization, and conflict resolution-as well as emerging cultural values such as individual autonomy."-- Provided by publisher Front Matter ....Pages i-xviii Introduction: Egalitarianism in a Scandinavian Context (Synnøve Bendixsen, Mary Bente Bringslid, Halvard Vike)....Pages 1-44 Front Matter ....Pages 45-45 The Cultural Construction of Equality in Norden (Bo Stråth)....Pages 47-64 The Cradle of Norwegian Equality and Egalitarianism: Norway in the Nineteenth Century (Jan Eivind Myhre)....Pages 65-85 Likhet Is Not Equality: Discussing Norway in English and Norwegian (Simone Abram)....Pages 87-108 Front Matter ....Pages 109-109 The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Political Resistance: Notes on the Political Roots of Egalitarianism in Scandinavia (Halvard Vike)....Pages 111-133 Social Imaginaries and Egalitarian Practices in the Era of Neoliberalization (Maja Hojer Bruun)....Pages 135-155 Normative Hierarchy and Pragmatic Egalitarianism in Municipal Policy Development (Christian Lo)....Pages 157-178 Front Matter ....Pages 179-179 Social Differences in Health as a Challenge to the Danish Welfare State (Camilla Hoffmann Merrild)....Pages 181-200 How Deep into Their Lives Can We Really Go? Diverse Populations, Professionals, and Contested Egalitarianisms in an Institutional Setting (Ida Erstad)....Pages 201-221 The Limits of Egalitarianism: Irregular Migration and the Norwegian Welfare State (Marry-Anne Karlsen)....Pages 223-243 Front Matter ....Pages 245-245 Riding Along in the Name of Equality: Everyday Demands on Refugee Children to Conform to Local Bodily Practices of Danish Egalitarianism (Birgitte Romme Larsen)....Pages 247-267 Egalitarianism Under Siege? Swedish Refugee Reception and Social Trust (Kjell Hansen)....Pages 269-289 Conditional Belonging: Middle-Class Ethnic Minorities in Norway (Monica Five Aarset)....Pages 291-311 The (In)egalitarian Dynamics of Gender Equality and Homotolerance in Contemporary Norway (Christine M. Jacobsen)....Pages 313-335 Postscript (Jonathan Friedman)....Pages 337-345 Back Matter ....Pages 347-357