THE NORWEGIAN SOCIETY – POLITICS, ECONOMY, AND DIVERSITY

Course Description

.

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course of SAM1020E The Norwegian Society – Politics, Economy, and Diversity should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

KNOWLEDGE

The student:

• has knowledge of Norwegian history, culture, and important shared values in the Norwegian society.
• has knowledge of key aspects of Norwegian foreign policy.
• has good knowledge of democratic forms of government, political governance, and Norway’s political system.
• has good knowledge of the welfare state’s economic preconditions and ideological basis.
• has knowledge of Norwegian working life, establishment of values, and entrepreneurship.
• understands basic economic concepts such as budget, result and balance sheets, currency, interest rates, and inflation.
• Knows the main features of the Norwegian economy and key characteristics of Norwegian economic policy.
• has good knowledge of necessary preconditions for social integration and Norwegian citizenship, with special emphasis on immigration and integration in Norway.

SKILLS

The student:

• has the ability to present and discuss what is “typical Norwegian” both orally and in writing.
• Is capable of analyzing dilemmas with the Scandinavian welfare state
• can reflect on what is required to create a good society through active citizenship
• has the ability to discuss connections between political and socio-economic conditions in Norway.

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The student:

• has the ability to critically reflect on one’s own attitudes towards society.
• shows increased accountability and commitment in relation to the Norwegian society.
• can combine commitment with critical thinking

.

Modes of Instruction

The course consists of a combination of interactive teaching, reading of the required reading, active digital learning, observation of social practices, and writing assignments. The course consists of 32 teaching hours. This includes lectures, working with cases, group discussions, and analysis of film and digital media. Some of the lessons can be replaced by participation in research at HLT.

Required Reading

Brochmann, G. and Hagelund. A. (2011). “Migrants in the Scandinavian Welfare State. The Emergence of a Social Policy Problem.” Nordic Journal of Migration Research. Vol. 1 (1). pp 13-24 (11 pages)

Brochmann, G. and Djuve A.B. (2013) “Chapter 9: Multiculturalism or Assimilation? The Norwegian Welfare State Approach” in Debating Multiculturalism in the Nordic Welfare States. Kivisto and Wahlbeck (eds.) Palgrave Macmillan; pp. 219 – 245. (26 pages)

Core Economics. (2017). The Economy: Economics for a Changing World. https://www.core-econ.org/project/core-the-economy/ chapters 1-2, 8, 14.

Eriksen, T. H. (2013) Immigration and National Identity in Norway. Report for The Transatlantic Council on Migration. (17 pages). https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/immigration-and-national-identity-norway

Erdal, M.B. and R.T. Ezzati (2015). “Age, life cycle, and length of stay: temporal perspectives on integration.” PRIO Policy Brief, No. 1. (4 pages) https://www.prio.org/Publications/Publication/x=7609

International Monetary Fund. (2017) “Back to Basics: Economic concepts explained” Finance &

Development. (77 pages). https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/IMF073/24615-9781484320921/24615-9781484320921/24615-9781484320921.xml

Knutsen, Oddbjørn. (2017) The Nordic Models in Political Science. Challenged, but still viable? Fagbokforlaget (254 pages)

Maagerø, Eva and Birte Simonsen (ed) (2008). Norway: Society and Culture. 2nd ed. Kristiansand: Portal Books. Pp 13-73, 102-124, 136-194. (140 pages)

Ryggvik, Helge. (2015). “A Short History of the Norwegian Oil Industry: From Protected National Champions to Internationally Competitive Multinationals.” Business History Review 89 (1): 3-41 (38 pages)

Statistisk sentralbyrå. (2020). “This is Norway 2020”. https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/artikler-og-publikasjoner/this-is-norway-2020 (85 pages).

Sørvoll, J. (2015). “The Norwegian Welfare State 2005-2015: Public attitudes, political debates and future challenges.” https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/welfsoc/files/2015/05/Sørvoll-2015-Norface-Nwelfare-state.docx.pdf (50 pages)

Trädgardh, Lars, et. Al. (2011). “The Nordic Way”. World Economic Forum, Davos (25 sider)

Recommended Reading

Arter, David (2015). Scandinavian Politics Today. Third edition. Manchester University Press.

Engelstad, Fredrik, Larsen, Håkon, Rogstad, Jon, & Steen-Johnsen, Kar (eds.) (2017). Institutional Change in the Public Sphere. Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter.

Grødem, A.S. (2017). “Family-oriented policies in Scandinavia and the challenge of immigration” Journal of European Social Policy, Vol. 27 (1). pp. 77–89.

Halvorsen, K. and Stjernø, S. (2008). Work, Oil and Welfare. The Welfare State in Norway. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.

Kjeldstadli, Knut and Idar Helle. (2016). “Social Democracy in Norway.” The Three Worlds of Social Democracy, edited by Ingo Schmidt, 46-67. Pluto Press.

Kvist, Jon, Johan Fritzell, Bjorn Hvinden, and Olli Kangas. (2011). Changing social equality: The Nordic Welfare Model in the 21st Century. Policy Press.

Sejersted, Francis. (2011). The Age of Social Democracy. Norway and Sweden in the Twentieth Century. Princeton University Press.

Stenersen, Øivind and Ivar Libæk. (2003). The History of Norway: From the Ice Age until Today. Dinamo Forlag.

Veggeland, Noralv (ed.). (2016). The Current Nordic Welfare State Model. Nova Science Publishers.

Vike, Halvard (2018). Politics and Bureaucracy in the Norwegian Welfare State. Palgrave Macmillan

Witoszek, Nina and Atle Midttun (eds). (2018). Sustainable Modernity (1st ed., Vol. 1). Routledge.