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This volume represents a study of contemporary politics and policy making in the five nation-states and three home rules territories of the Nordic region. Written by an expert in the field, its approach is systematically thematic and comparative. Chapters deal with current political science issues such as nation-building and state-building, as well as addressing intrinsically important regional questions such as whether or not there is a Nordic model of government, a distinctively Scandinavian form of parliamentarism and a superior welfare system. There is also detailed discussion of the Nordi

Copyright; Contents; Tables; Preface; Abbreviations; Part I Scandinavia past and present; 1The eight quills of the swan; 2 Nation-building and state-building,1809-1944; Part II Parties in developmental perspective; 3 The emergence of the Scandinavianparty system(s); 4 The historic strengths ofthe five main types of party; Part III Parties, voters and social change:w(h)ither the Scandinavianparty system model?; 5 The 'earthquake elections' of 1970-73 andthe emergence of new party types; 6 Party system change since 1970; Part IV The Nordic model; 7 A Nordic model of government?

8 The Nordic welfare modelPart V Legislative-executive relations inthe Nordic region; 9 The Nordic parliaments:an alternative model?; 10 'Fairly strong standing committees' and'influential party groups' -- a distinctivelyNordic mix?; 11 Nordic government(s): parliamentary, presidential or prime ministerial?; Part V IThe strategic security environment; 12 The changing security environment of theNordic region: from Cold War 'securitythreats' to the 'security challenges' of today; 13 'Reluctant Nordics', 'reluctant Europeans', but 'moral superpowers'?; Epilogue; Index

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