Anu Koivunen
Media Scholar and Professor of Gender Studies Professor at School of History, Culture and Arts Studies, University of Turku, Finland.
Address: Faculty of Social Sciences
33014 University of Tampere
Finland
Address: Faculty of Social Sciences
33014 University of Tampere
Finland
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Historically, consensus, continuity, social cohesion, and broad social trust have been hailed as key components for the success and for the self-images of Sweden and Finland. In the contemporary, however, political debates in both countries are increasingly focused on risks, threats, and worry. Social disintegration, political polarization, geopolitical anxieties, and threat of terrorism are often dominant themes. This book focuses on what appears to be a paradox: countries with low income differences, high faith in social institutions, and relatively high cultural homogeneity becoming fixated on the fear of polarization, disintegration, and diminished social trust. Unpacking the presentist discourse of "worry" and a sense of interregnum at the face of geopolitical tensions, digitalization, and globalization, as well as challenges to democracy, the chapters take steps back in time and explore the current conjecture through the eyes of historians and social scientists, addressing key aspects of and challenges to both the contemporary and future Nordic Model. In addition, the functioning and efficacy of the participatory democracy and current protocols of decision-making are debated.
Providing keen insights into the political potential as well as the constraints of vulnerability for feminist, queer and anti-racist criticism, the book is of interest to scholars and students in media and cultural studies, affect theory, gender studies, queer theory and critical race studies.