Nordic Prime Ministers Annual Meeting in Vestmannaeyjar on June 26, 2023
Nordic Prime Ministers Annual Meeting in Vestmannaeyjar on June 26, 2023
IMAGO / Lehtikuva

Northern Exposure

Politics and Change in the Nordic Countries

The Nordic countries have, for decades, been characterised by a strong welfare state and strong unions, creating more equal societies with low levels of poverty and exclusion, high levels of gender equality and employment, and some of the highest standards of living seen.

Nonetheless, the “Nordic model” has long been under stress. The region is not immune from the broader dynamics, trends and challenges of liberal democracies: the rise of the far right and right-wing populism, the neoliberal push for austerity and privatisation, the erosion of the gains of feminism, the so-called refugee crisis and the rise of racist discourse associated with it, and the struggle to combat climate change.

The political traditions, landscapes, and contexts for the emergence and success of political parties and movements across the Nordic region differ substantially, including very different economic profiles, and varying approaches to the European Union and EU integration.

This section provides political analysis on the situation and development of the left in the Nordic region, its challenges, and opportunities.

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santajens-640x360 Kristin Svorte, Dagbladet

Bad Santa? How Norway can provide real climate jobs

Northern ExposureSocial-ecological transformation
“Pay up, or humanity will pay the price”. With the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House in January, that key message from UN General Secretary António Guterres was seen as even more urgent at this year’s Climate Summit, which ended in dismay at wealthy nations’ inability to commit sufficient ... read more "Bad Santa? How Norway can provide real climate jobs"
denmark-article-640x360 John Nielsen

Why Europe should avoid modelling its migration policy on Denmark

Northern ExposureElections and parties
Despite being one of the first countries to sign the UN Refugee Convention, Denmark has also been a frequent first-mover on harsh immigration policies in Europe. An increasing number of political parties – not all of them right-wing or nationalist – across Europe point to the “Danish ... read more "Why Europe should avoid modelling its migration policy on Denmark"
sweden-640x360 IMAGO/TT

Sweden’s Left Party celebrates its biggest win in 20 year

Northern Exposure
After winning over 11 percent of the vote, and two mandates, in June’s European Parliament elections, the Swedish Left Party Vänsterpartiet is celebrating its best election results in twenty years. The historic result brought the party a step closer to fulfilling large parts of its main strategy, ... read more "Sweden’s Left Party celebrates its biggest win in 20 year"
nordic_EU-elections-640x360 IMAGO/Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg

More than just an electoral upwind? Nordic left-wing parties after the EU elections

Northern ExposureEurope: ruin or renewal
Record results for (Centre-)Left parties in the Nordic countries, with far-right parties losing ground. Denmark, Finland and Sweden surprised during the European elections with results that seemed to contradict the political drift in much of the rest of Europe. While this is a... read more "More than just an electoral upwind? Nordic left-wing parties after the EU elections"
finland-e1716548954563-640x360 IMAGO/Lehtikuva

Opposing Finland’s Thatcherist Turn

Northern ExposureEurope: ruin or renewalElections and parties
As the European Parliament elections this June draw nearer, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is conducting a series of interviews with left-wing parties and candidates from across the EU on the election campaign, their political programmes, and the challenges facing left-wing forces domestically and at a European level. The foundation’s Duroyan Fertl spoke to... read more "Opposing Finland’s Thatcherist Turn"
Pic-Frederikke-Hellemann-640x360 Quentin Bruno / The Left

“Back to Basics”

Northern ExposureEurope: ruin or renewalElections and parties
As the European Parliament elections this June draw nearer, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is conducting a series of interviews with left-wing parties and candidates from across the EU on the election campaign, their political programmes, and the challenges facing left-wing forces domestically and at a European level. The foundation’s Duroyan Fertl spoke to... read more "“Back to Basics”"
hanna-gedin2_c-640x360 Agnes Stuber

“We need to give people hope”

Northern ExposureEurope: ruin or renewal
An interview with Hanna Gedin from the Swedish Left Party Vänsterpartiet on the priorities and challenges of the Swedish Left ahead of the European elections.  In the lead up to the 2024 European Parliament elections this June, the Rosa Luxemburg-Stiftung is conducting a series of interviews with parties and ... read more "”We need to give people hope”"
The Finns Party presidential candidate Jussi Halla-aho at his election reception in Helsinki on January 28, 2024. imago / Lehtikuva

Finland’s far right: between scandal and mainstream

Northern Exposure
The Finnish government was sent into upheaval almost as soon as it was formed in June last year, as multiple revelations of racist statements and memes emerged concerning one of the new coalition’s two main parties – The Finns, a far-right nationalist anti-immigration party. The crisis almost brought ... read more "Finland’s far right: between scandal and mainstream"