About the antologi:
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.
