Course Description

The course will focus on:

• “The Nordic model”: What is the “Nordic model”- different ways of understanding the concept. Should we really talk about a Nordic model?
• Ideology, religion and political power as a starting point for the creation of political culture. How did the elite classes view the state and society around the middle of the 1800s?
• The democratization of the Nordic countries, including the driving forces; inhibiting factors; relevant dates; the importance of international relations and the importance of popular organizations.
• The basis for the social-democratic power position in the Nordic region. The rise of the Scandinavian labour movement with an emphasis on similarities and differences.
• The roots of the Nordic welfare state. What does the term ‘welfare state’ mean, and which approaches are used to study the subject?
• The development of national identities in the region.
• Social Democracy after the Second World War. To what extent is it possible to talk about a Social Democratic dominance in the Nordic countries? In this context, what distinguishes the Nordic countries from the rest of Europe, and what distinguishes the Nordic countries from each other?
• The modern Nordic (welfare) state.
• Nordic cooperation. The political and ideological background of “Northism” and Nordic cooperation.

The course is research-based and the lecturers include active scholars who teach and draw on their own experience where relevant. During the excursion related to the course (see below), the students will also have direct contact with active researchers.
The course is part of the specialization study programme in history (please refer to separate document); it is expected that this course will be taken together with Overview of Nordic History (3508) and another specialization course, each comprising 10 ECTS credits. The course, Overview of Nordic History (3508), provides background knowledge and the methodological foundation for the specialization course (3511), and should therefore always be taken together with it, or prior to it. It may vary from year to year whether 3511 is offered, and also whether it is taught in the spring or autumn semester.

Assessment Methods

The assessment consists of either a home examination (two weeks) and an oral examination, or a six-hour written examination in the college at the end of the semester. The form of assessment chosen will be decided by drawing lots each semester, so that students who take both specialization courses offered in history in the same academic year, will have a home examination in one course, and a written examination at the college in the other. The drawing of lots will be done in the autumn semester, and the result will also apply to the form of examination applicable to those students who take only one specialization course.

These examination forms are chosen so that students will be given the opportunity to demonstrate: knowledge and understanding of historical development; the ability to think analytically and critically; the ability to communicate orally and in writing, c.f. learning outcome above.

In the home examination, other relevant literature (for instance, an article) and / or source material may be used, in addition to curriculum literature. In such cases, students will be given the relevant material. The oral examination will supplement the written work. Students will only be called into the oral examination, if they have passed the written examination.

The grade given will be on a letter scale from A to E, where F represents a failing grade.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean