Questions the thesis of Nordic homogeneity by launching a re-examination of the institutional structures, political forces and public policies that characterise Sweden, Denmark and Norway separately and collectively as emblematically "Nordic". This book's tests claims that "Nordic democracy" and "Nordic welfare state" are a special case.

This book questions the much vaunted thesis of Nordic homogeneity by launching a comparative re-examination of the institutional structures, political forces and public policies that characterise Sweden, Denmark and Norway separately and collectively as emblematically "Nordic". Broadening the focus by degrees, the book tests claims that "Nordic democracy" and "Nordic welfare state" are a special case, distinguishing them from wider European versions. Each of the 15 chapters compares a different aspect of Nordic and national politics, among them parties and party systems; voters and social cleavages; civic society; women in politics; local government and security policies. It comes along with a bibliography and an index.

Preface
State and Nation-Building in he Nordic Area
Modern State Reforms
Parties and Party Systems
Voters and Social Cleavages
Civic Society in Transition
Patterns of Corporatist Intermediation
Parliamentary Nominations and Political Representation -- Group Representation or Party Mandates?
Parliamentary Government
The Presence of Women in Parliamentary Politics
Local Government and Politics
Nordic Regions in a European Perspective
The Welfare State -- Still Viable?
Security Policies from Constraints to Choice
The Nordics and the EU
Comparative Perspectives on the Northern Countries
Index.