Knowledge on the Nordics

The Baltic Sea Region and Estonian Landscapes

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0100

Listen to a podcast about the landscapes of Estonia and how phases in history have left their mark, from old nineteenth-century German manors to sparsely populated ex-Soviet training areas. Hannes Palang from Tallinn University talks to editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, and explains his research on landscapes and how it reveals the fascinating history of Estonia and the Baltic Sea Region as a whole.

Hannes Palang from Tallinn University talks to editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe.

The Baltic Sea Region and Estonian Seascapes

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0200

Listen to a podcast that uncovers the different layers of the Estonian coastline from a human geography perspective. Estonian seascapes range from beaches to waterfalls and have historically supported people in a range of industries from tourism to fishing to the production of cosmetics. Seascapes also ignite energy debates about oil shale and wind farms against the backdrop of being Russia's neighbour today.

Anu Printsmann from Tallinn University talks to editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe.

The Baltic Sea Region and An Estonian Heritagescape

Fri, 03 May 2024 14:00:00 +0200

Listen to a podcast about the northeastern region of Estonia and how research can uncover different layers of a landscape. Hear about oil shale production, the influx of people during Soviet times, contemporary outdoor adventure in the forest, and learn about the concept heritscape.

Saara Mildeberg from Tallinn University talks to editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe.

Regionalisation and the Baltic Sea Region

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0200

Listen to a podcast about when and why states in and around the Baltic Sea have worked together for economic, social or geopolitical reasons, with a focus on Poland.
After the end of the Cold War, regional initiatives like the Council of the Baltic Sea States sprung up to keep Russia around the table and as a vehicle to work collectively towards common aims, inspired at least in part by Nordic regional institutions. But are such initiatives still as important now Russia no longer plays a part in them?

Nicola Witcombe, editor of nordics.info, talks to researchers Damian Szacawa and Jakub Olchowski political scientists at the Department of International Relations, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. It was recorded in September 2023.

NNL Pod 15: What was the New Nordic Lexicon podcast series about?

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:00:00 +0100

Listen to a whistlestop tour covering the last 14 podcasts, touching down in Aarhus, Stockholm, Oslo, and Helsinki, and featuring clips from podcasts where young people put questions to researchers on topics of the day, including the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine, gender, and the climate.

Nicola Witcombe, who is the editor of nordics.info, and Daniela Lange Andersen, a student from Aarhus University, discuss the series and recount views of the other students and researchers that have been involved. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL POD 14: What was the Nordic humanitarian response to the Biafra Crisis?

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0100

Listen to a discussion on how Nordic public and voluntary organisations - particularly in Denmark, Sweden and Finland - responded to the famine which ensued when Biafra attempted to secede from Nigeria in the 1960s.

In the fourteenth episode for the New Nordic Lexicon, students Gaëtan Gamba and Agata Pyka speak to three researchers about their research project on Nordic relief efforts during the Biafra Crisis: Norbert Götz and Carl Marklund from Södertörn University, and Susan Lindholm, from Stockholm University.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 13: Why and how is the English language used in the Nordic countries?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0100

Listen to a discussion on how the use of English in the Nordic countries, with a focus on Finland and Sweden, and the consequences of this on immigration populations and identity.

In the thirteen episode, students Gaëtan Gamba and Essi Turva speak mainly to Elizabeth Peterson from the University of Helsinki. Nina Carlsson from Uppsala University, Tuire Liimatainen from the Migration Institute of Finland, and Nicola Witcombe, editor of nordics.info, also join the discussion. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 12: How do biligualism and minority languages function in Finland and Sweden?

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 07:00:00 +0100

Listen to a discussion on the diversity of the languages in the Nordic countries, focusing on how bi- and multulingualism functions in practice, and the history, framework and importance of minority and heritage languages and their status in Sweden and Finland.

In the twelfth podcast for the New Nordic Lexicon, students from Aarhus and Helsinki Universities, Gaëtan Gamba and Sóley Eliasdottir, speak to Nina Carlsson from the University of Uppsala, and Tuire Liimatainen from the Migration Institute of Finland. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 11: Why is there a gap between talking and action when it comes to climate change? / Hvorfor fører klimasnak ikke til handling?

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0100

Listen to an interview in Swedish and Norwegian on the gap between talk and action when it comes to climate change.

In the eleventh podcast for the New Nordic Lexicon, students from Bergen and Lund speak to Maria Wolrath-Söderberg from Södertörn University. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 10: How is rhetoric relevant to climate change? / Hvordan er retorik relevant i forhold til klimaforandringer?

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0100

Listen to an interview in Swedish and Norwegian on how people’s use of language and their thoughts have a direct effect on their level of emissions. Research into how people reason and think about climate change is crucial to the debate on climate change.

In the tenth podcast for the New Nordic Lexicon, students from Bergen and Lund, speak to Maria Wolrath-Söderberg from Södertörn University. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 9: How has political and literary security changed since the invasion of Ukraine? / Hvilke sikkerhedspolitiske og litterære ændringer er der sket siden invasionen af Ukraine?

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Listen to an interview in Danish on the changing political landscape since the invasion of Ukraine, both in Russia, Europe and Norden with two researchers from Aarhus University.

Daniela Lange Andersen and Mattias Carlberg, students from Aarhus and Lund Universities, speak again to Thorsten Borring Olesen and Birgitte Beck Pristed, both from Aarhus University, this time about security issues, both in and outside of Russia and Ukraine.

NNL Pod 8: How has political and literary culture changed since the invasion of Ukraine? / Hvilke ændringer i den politiske og litterære kultur er der sket siden invasionen af Ukraine?

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0100

Listen to an interview in Danish on the changing cultural landscape within both politics and literature since the invasion of Ukraine, both in Russia, Europe and Norden, with two researchers from Aarhus University.

In the eigth podcast for the New Nordic Lexicon, students from Aarhus and Lund Universities, Daniela Lange Andersen and Mattias Carlberg, speak to Thorsten Borring Olesen and Birgitte Beck Pristed, both from Aarhus University, about international political culture, and literature and reading in Russia. They also discuss recommendations of books to read and music to listen to about what is going on in Ukraine and Russia. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 7: What is the state of gender policy in Norway today? / Hvordan står det til med kønspolitikken i Norge i dag?

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Victoria Austveg, a Master’s student from the University of Oslo, speaks to Mari Teigen, Professor at the Institute for Social Research in Norway. This episode builds on the last two, but focuses more on Norway’s policies, including board membership requirements placed on companies, the gender segregated labour market, how wages are set, and equal pay. It is in Norwegian and Danish.

Go to The New Nordic Lexicon for further reading on this and many more subjects!

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 6: What are the challenges to gender equality policymaking in the Nordics?

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Listen to a discussion on policymaking, gender segregation and equal pay.

In this, the sixth podcast for the New Nordic Lexicon, where students Emma Healey from the University of Helsinki and Victoria Austveg from the University of Oslo speak to Cathrine Holst, Professor in Philosophy of Science and Democracy at Oslo University. Nicola Witcombe, who is editor of nordics.info based at Aarhus University, also joins the discussion. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 5: Does reality live up to the Nordics' reputation when it comes to gender equality?

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 +0100

Listen to a discussion on the Nordic equality model, whether its reputation holds up to scrutiny, and differences between the Nordic countries (particularly Norway and Sweden) when it comes to gender issues.

In this episode, students Emma Healey from the University of Helsinki and Victoria Austveg from the University of Oslo speak to Cathrine Holst, Professor in Philosophy of Science and Democracy at the University of Oslo. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Go to The New Nordic Lexicon for further reading on this and many more subjects!

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 4: How are city planning and sustainability connected?

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0200

Listen to how cities have developed historically and about different urban approaches to sustainability and inclusivity.

In this episode, students from Helsinki and Södertörn Universities, Gaëtan Gamba and Jasmin Adolph speak to two Romina Rodela from Södertörn University, and Natalie Gulsrud from the University of Copenhagen. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Go to The New Nordic Lexicon for further reading on this and many more subjects!

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 3: Why should young people be involved in urban planning?

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0200

It is not always easy for children and young people to get their voices heard when it comes to the planning of the cities they live in. But their input is important for a whole range of reasons including that cities need to be fit for purpose, young people's health and counteracting climate change.

In this third episode, a student from Helsinki University, Gaëtan Gamba, and a recent alumni of Södertörn University, Jasmin Adolph, speak to two researchers, Romina Rodela from Södertörn University, and Natalie Gulsrud from the University of Copenhagen, about urban planning and youth involvement. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Go to The New Nordic Lexicon for further reading on this and many more subjects!

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 2: Can we identify with regions like the Nordics or the Baltic Sea region?

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 08:00:00 +0200

Pan-national regions – like the Nordics or the Baltic Sea region - can give us an alternative perspective to the nation state. What are the benefits and challenges of these pan-national regions and have feelings of identity changed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

This is the second of our podcasts for the New Nordic Lexicon where students get the chance to put questions to researchers. In this episode, students from Aarhus University, Chance Dorland and Sóley Eliasdottir, speak to Kazimierz Musiał from the University of Gdansk Scandinavian Studies and Finnish department and Alexander Drost from the Interdiscipliary Centre for Baltic Sea Region Research at Griefswald University in Germany. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

NNL Pod 1: What is the Baltic Sea Region and how has it changed since the invasion of Ukraine?

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:00:00 +0200

The Nordic Region is part of the Baltic Sea Region, connected in historical, cultural and economic ways. Listen to a podcast about what has changed in the Baltic Sea Region since the invasion of Ukraine, and about how regions are not static and change over time, much like our affiliation for them.

Students from Aarhus University, Chance Dorland and Sóley Eliasdottir, get answers to their questions from two scholars, Kazimierz Musiał from the University of Gdansk's Scandinavian and Finnish Studies department and Alexander Drost from the Interdiscipliary Centre for Baltic Sea Region Research at Greifswald University. This podcast was made possible by funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation.

Sound credits: Summer by tictac9 from freesound.org.

Brugen af engelsk i den nordiske region

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0100

Engelskkundskaberne er både udbredte og på højt niveau i de nordiske lande, og det er der legitime historiske og sociopolitiske årsager til. Men man bør ikke gå ud fra, at alle er lige dygtige til sproget, eller at der ikke sættes spørgsmålstegn ved sprogets magt og udbredelse. Lyt til denne podcast for at høre mere om det engelske sprog i Norden i dag.

Podcasten er skrevet af Eeva Sippola og Elizabeth Peterson, oplæst af Caroline Vogt Hansen og produceret af Nicola Witcombe. Du kan også lytte til den podcast på engelsk eller læse den på engelsk på nordics.info.

Lydeffekter fra freesound.org, inklusive talking.wav af ondrosik pg Piano Solo 01 by BergsteinProd (med ændringer i lydstyrke og fading).

The Use of English in the Nordic Region

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 15:00:00 +0100

Proficiency in English is widespread in the Nordic countries, but not everyone is good at English and the language's dominance is often questioned. Listen to this podcast to find out more about the English language in the Nordic region today.

The podcast is written by Eeva Sippola and Elizabeth Peterson, and read out and produced by Nicola Witcombe. You can also read this podcast as an article on nordics.info or listen to it in Danish.

Sounds from freesound.org including talking.wav by ondrosik and Piano Solo 01 by BergsteinProd (fading/volume changes/overlay to both tracks).

Arvesprog og den nordiske region

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0100

Lyt til denne podcast for at finde ud af hvad et arvesprog er, og hvordan tilstanden af arvesprog i den nordiske region er i dag.

Podcasten er skrevet af Eeva Sippola og Elizabeth Peterson, oplæst af Caroline Vogt Hansen og produceret af Nicola Witcombe. Du kan også lytte til den podcast på engelsk eller læse den på engelsk på nordics.info.

Lydeffekter fra freesound.org, inklusive talking.wav af ondrosik pg Piano Solo 01 by BergsteinProd (med ændringer i lydstyrke og fading).

Heritage languages and the Nordic Region

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0100

Find out what a heritage language is, and what the state of heritage languages in the Nordic region is today in this podcast written by Eeva Sippola and Elizabeth Peterson from the University of Helsinki.

It is read out and produced by Nicola Witcombe. You can also read this podcast as an article on nordics.info or listen to it in Danish.

Sounds from freesound.org including talking.wav by ondrosik and Piano Solo 01 by BergsteinProd (fading/volume changes/overlay to both tracks).

Shaping the Nordic Future: Nature and Planning

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0200

Listen to a dialogue between three environmental scientists about how nature-based solutions are used in the Nordics, their benefits and their downsides. Editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, talks to Isabel Seifert-Dähnn, an environmental economist from the Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Johanna Alkan-Olsson, a Social Environmental Scientist, and Helena Hanson, an Environmental Scientist, both from the Centre for Environmental and Climate Science at Lund University in Sweden. All three scholars are part of S-ITUATION: Nature-Based Solutions in the Nordics.

Find out more on nordics.info.

Sound credits include Heavy Rain by lebaston100 (some changes made e.g. cutting & changes to volume) on freesound.org.

Diversity Management in Denmark and Beyond

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 11:00:00 +0200

This podcast is about how large organisations, like companies and trade unions, can learn from social movements such as Pride. While some of it may be lip service, the hope is that some elements stick, resulting in more diverse and inclusive workplaces across the Nordics and beyond. Jannick Friis Christensen from Copenhagen Business School is interviewed by Nicola Witcombe, editor of the research dissemination website nordics.info.

Go to nordics.info for links to literature and events mentioned in this podcast.

Sound credits: Manifestation by barcelonetasonora (CC BY 4.0) and demonstration screams by chazam (CC BY 4.0).

The Nordics, Shipping and the Climate

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0200

Listen to global historian Annette Skovsted Hansen from Aarhus University and legal expert Ellen Eftestöl from the University of Helsinki, amongst others, on climate issues, research and the latest currents in the green transition and shipping. This is the second of two podcast on The Maritime Nordics.

For further reading and links, go to nordics.info.

The Nordics as Maritime Nations

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0200

Editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe looks into why the Nordic countries are seen – and see themselves – as maritime nations, and how this has connected them with the rest of the world. To help her, she speaks to global historian Annette Skovsted Hansen from Aarhus University and legal expert Ellen Eftestöl from the University of Helsinki. This is the first of two podcast on The Maritime Nordics.

For further reading & links, go to nordics.info.

Nordic perspectives on the Women’s International Democratic Federation

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 11:00:00 +0200

Listen to a podcast about the Women’s International Democratic Federation during the Cold War period and why is was important to women from the Nordic region to be involved. With Yulia Gradskova Associate Professor at Södertörn University and Nicola Witcombe, editor of nordics.info.

Read more on nordics.info.

Nordic Cooperation : Self-interest or Altruism?

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0100

The Nordics are often seen as ethical countries because they have a reputation for being environmentally friendly and for giving a lot in development aid. Listen to a podcast on how Nordic cooperation works through politicians, civil servants and civil society, and how it is often more driven by self-interest than at first appears.

Editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe speaks to Sunniva Engh who has researched development aid in the Nordics and its interplay with other policy areas, and Melina Antonia Buns, an international environmental historian who researched environmental cooperation in the Nordics.

Sound credits from freesound.org including kalimba1.wav by reimsamba (CC BY 3.0) and traffic in town.WAV by inchadney (C BY-NC 3.0) (changes made to length and volume in both).

Greenland: Uncovering Archeology with Kirstine Eiby Møller

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0100

Listen to an interview with indigenous arctic archeologist Kirstine Eiby Møller and hear about the Qilakitsoq mummies and how they have informed her work.

Read more on nordics.info. This is the latest in the podcast series 'The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from Greenland' about Greenland's history and art.

Sound credits from freesound.org including "Noir" Reel by Hainbach by makenoisemusic, loneliness by rashta and The Plan - Upbeat Loop by ispeakwaves.

Greenland: Uncovering National Dress and Symbolism with Rosannguaq Rossen

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0100

Listen to an interview with PhD in Arctic Studies Rosannguaq Rossen, and hear about the history of the West Greenlandic dress and a picture from 1862 showing two women wearing pearl beads round the neck for the first time.

Read more on nordics.info. This is the latest in the podcast series 'The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from Greenland' about Greenland's history and art.

Sound credits from freesound.org including "Noir" Reel by Hainbach by makenoisemusic, loneliness by rashta and The Plan - Upbeat Loop by ispeakwaves.

Greenland: Uncovering Art History with Nivi Christensen

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0100

Listen to an interview with Director of Nuuk Art Museum Nivi Christensen and hear about how two key Greenlandic artists - Pia Arke and Anne-Birthe Hove - have informed her own work.

Read more on nordics.info. This is the latest in the podcast series 'The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from Greenland' about Greenland's history and art.

Sound credits from freesound.org including "Noir" Reel by Hainbach by makenoisemusic, loneliness by rashta and The Plan - Upbeat Loop by ispeakwaves.

Mennesker med Handicap: Politiske Strømninger i Norden siden 1945

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:00:00 +0100

Lyt til et historisk overblik over mennesker med handicap: aktivisme og politiske strømninger i Norden siden 1945. Artiklen er originalt skrevet på engelsk af Anna Derksen og oplæst af Kieu Anh Nguyen fra nordics.info.

Du kan lytte til podcasten på engelsk her, eller læs artiklen på engelsk her.

#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Disability in the Nordic Countries since 1945

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0100

Listen to an historical overview of disability policies and movements in the Nordic countries since 1945. You can also listen to this podcast in Danish by clicking here.

You can also read the podcast as an article, which is by Anna Derksen, here.

#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Islands historie

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0200

Lyt til historien om Islands historie. Artiklen fra danmarkshistorien.dk om Islands historie er oplæst af Kieu Anh Nguyen fra nordics.info.

Læs artiklen på dansk her eller på engelsk her.

#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

History of Iceland

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:00:00 +0200

Listen to a potted history of Iceland from the Viking Age to today. It is an article found on nordics.info in English and on danmarkshistorien.dk in Danish. It is read by editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe.

You can read the article in English here and in Danish here.

#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Sound credits from freesound.org including Flock of seagulls.wav by juskiddink and bricks hitting by Robinhood76.

Uncovering the Nordic Region with Mary Hilson and Peter Stadius

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:00:00 +0200

Hot topics in current academic research on the Nordic region today include welfare, colonialism and heterogeneity. These – as well as a host of other issues - form the content of this podcast, the last in the series ‘The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region’.

Editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, is joined by Mary Hilson Professor of History at Aarhus University in Denmark and Peter Stadius Research Director at the Centre for Nordic Studies at Helsinki University. Their conversation also takes in:

Traditional histories versus new perspectives.
A Europe of Regions e.g. the Oresund.
The rise of nationalism.
Finnish colonialism.

Find out more on nordics.info.

Sound credits from freesound.org including "Noir" Reel by Hainbach by makenoisemusic, loneliness by rashta and The Plan - Upbeat Loop by ispeakwaves.

Uncovering Sweden in an International Context with Carl Marklund

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0200

Listen to this podcast if you are interested in how Sweden’s policymaking successes and failures since the Cold War have been perceived domestically and outside the region, including:

Sweden’s early involvement in humanitarianism;
The ‘utopian trap’;
Sweden-bashing;
Perspectives on social engineering.

Carl Marklund is a researcher and Research Director at the Institute of Contemporary History at Södertörn University, and he talks to Nicola Witcombe, editor of nordics.info.

This is the tenth virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series ’The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region’ and was recorded in May 2021.

Find out more on nordics.info.

Norway: Uncovering Gender and Branding in the Nordics with Eirinn Larsen

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0200

Listen to this podcast if you are interested in:

Women’s role in business from around 1900 to today.
The Norwegian gender quota system on business boards.
Why we should question our love of ‘quick fix’ global indexes which often place the Nordics at the top.
The fact that there is usually a host of other political reasons for gender-positive action that have nothing to do with equality.

Eirinn Larsen, Professor in History at the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History at the University of Oslo, and editor of Gender Equality and Nation Branding in the Nordic Region , helps editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe understand why and how gender is used as a tool for branding the Nordics.

This is the ninth virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series ’The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region’ and was recorded in May 2021.

Find out more on nordics.info.

Shaping the Nordic Past: History-Makers or Money-Makers?

Wed, 26 May 2021 14:00:00 +0200

This nordics.info podcast will be about the practicalities of history-making and how commercial and non-commercial organisations use history to sell tickets or a particular version of the past.

Listen to this podcast if you want to hear more about:

What role do museums play?
The specific heritage portrayed by country houses in and outside the Nordics.
What we forget is just as important as what we remember: mobilising the past for the future.
The tradition for folk and open air museums in the Nordics.
How can negative histories be useful?
Tourism and national heritage: The Little Mermaid.
What are the responsibilities of commercial and non-commercial history-makers?

The editor of nordics.info and Danish history student Vibeke Sandager Rønnedal interview two historians from Aarhus University and the Danish Centre for Urban History.

Find out more on nordics.info.

Sounds from freesound.org including All I Did Was Wait For You by kjartan_abel and Scene Change Music by dominictreis.

Finland: Uncovering Nordic Myths of Homogeneity with Miika Tervonen

Fri, 21 May 2021 10:00:00 +0200

Listen to this podcast if you are interested in finding out more about:

Minorities in Finland;
Myths of homogeneity in the Nordics;
The politicising and categorising of minorities and migrants;
History-writing.

Miika Tervonen, Senior Research Fellow at the Migration Institute of Finland and Docent at the Centre for Nordic Studies at the University of Helsinki, helps editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe examine these issues, challenging commonly held assumptions about state, homogeneity and migration.

Learn more about the peoples, historians and other things mentioned this podcast by going to nordics.info.

This is the eighth virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series ’The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region’.

Sounds from freesound.org including big_lorry_engine.aif by jacobsteel.

Shaping the Nordic Past: Fact, Fiction or Politics?

Tue, 18 May 2021 10:00:00 +0200

Listen to this podcast if you want to hear more about:

Memory studies.
Why is our relationship with the past so important for society?
How do we deal with different versions of the past?
Scandinavian memory culture: the dangers of complacency.

The editor of nordics.info and Danish history student Vibeke Sandager Rønnedal interview two historians from Aarhus University and the Danish Centre for Urban History.

Read more about the podcast and what is mentioned in it by going to nordics.info.

Sounds from freesound.org including All I Did Was Wait For You by kjartan_abel and Scene Change Music by dominictreis.

Uncovering the Nordic Model with Caroline de la Porte

Thu, 06 May 2021 13:00:00 +0200

Listen to this nordics.info podcast if you are interested in finding out more about:

The traits of the Nordic Model;
Examples of policy successes and policy challenges in the Nordics;
The relationship between the Nordics and the EU;
The provision of universal services, like early years childcare in Denmark and Sweden.

Editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe interviews Caroline de la Porte, a European political economist and Professor at the Department of International Economics, Government and Business at Copenhagen Business School. This is the seventh virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series ’The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region’ and was recorded in April 2021.

Denmark: Uncovering Nordic Collectivism with Cathie Jo Martin

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 14:00:00 +0200

Listen to this podcast if you are interested in :

How a collective mindset has been discernable in Denmark and the Nordic countries at points in history – and whether this still applies today;
Mass education in the nineteenth century in Denmark and greater emphasis on vocational training;
Labour market relations;
Neoliberalism and threats to collectivism.

Join the editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, on her sixth virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series ’The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region’. Cathie and Nicola spoke over Zoom in March 2021.

Sound credits : freesound.org, including Lapping Waves.wav by Benboncan, and Short dance by szegvari.

Visit nordics.info for more information on this podcast.

Television and Geopolitics: A Conversation on the Nordics

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0200

The interplay between popular culture and the ’real’ world is an interesting one: Can cultural products really have an effect on geopolitics? And can geopolitical actors learn from them? Robert Saunders thinks so. He is Professor in the Department of History, Politics and Geography the State University of New York and is interviewed by editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe. Find out more about how TV can be a tool in explaining geopolitics and historical events; and, how it is experimental ground for imagining how to deal with the uncertainty of future events, including relationships between countries and regions – and pandemics!

Sound credits: freesound.org e.g. bigmanjoe (Suspenceful Creepy Music.wav).

Visit nordics.info for more information on the works mentioned in the podcast!

Uncovering the Legacies of Nordic Colonialism with Lill-Ann Körber

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:00:00 +0100

Listen to this podcast if you want to hear more about:

The North Atlantic Islands of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands;
Denmark-Norway colonialism in the modern-day Caribbean and Ghana and its legacies;
The Greenlandic flag, 'Erfalasorput', and how it is used to respond to the Danish flag, the 'Dannebrog';
Contemporary cultural and political debates on racism, including about: Is Scandinavian ‘colourblindness’ a good thing?;
Breaking down the perception of the Nordics as innocent or exceptional.

Join the editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe on her fifth virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region. The sixth in the series is with Cathie Jo Martin, Professor in Political Science at the Boston University.

More information about the podcast can be found on nordics.info.

Sound credits : freesound.org, including Lapping Waves.wav by Benboncan, and Short dance by szegvari.

The Scandinavian Modern Breakthrough

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0100

Listen to this nordics.info podcast on the social, political and literary movement from around 1870 to 1900 in Scandinavia! Dubbed the Modern Breakthrough, it was a backlash against conservatism, both culturally and politically, and led to countless challenging and fascinating pieces of fictional and non-fictional literature and art. Authors were like celebrities, propounding social justice for the poor, emancipation and rights for women, taking up naturalist ideas post-Darwin, and kicking against the overriding religion.

Spoiler alert!: If you listen to this podcast, several endings of famous Scandinavian novels will be disclosed!

Sound credits from freesound.org including oboe horn tune & audience r.aif by IEDlabs and Historical Museum lounge area ambience.wav by Halfofthesky.

Iceland: Uncovering the past in Nordic Literature with Gunnþórunn Guðmundsdóttir

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 11:00:00 +0100

Listen to this podcast if you are interested in finding out more about:

Contemporary Icelandic literature to read in English translation;
Currents in Icelandic and Nordic literature on rewriting the past;
The exoticising of Iceland and the North; and,
Nordic noir as a category in literature and film.

Join the editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe on her fourth virtual visit around the Nordic countries in the podcast series The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region. Gunnþórunn and Nicola spoke on 24th February 2021 when they were frequently interrupted by earthquakes.

The 5th in the series is with Lill-Ann Körber, Professor at the School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University in Denmark about Nordic postcolonialism, amongst other things.

Find out more on nordics.info.

Sound credits : freesound.org.

Norway: Uncovering Nordic Childhood in an Online World with Elisabeth Staksrud

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0100

Children being exposed to a certain level of risk is not always seen as a bad thing in the Nordics; exposure can give children the tools to deal with risk and help them to become resilient and independent. The attitude of caregivers, teachers and children in the Nordics to online risk also reflects this approach - while elsewhere in the world a more stringent view is often taken. How we tackle children’s online lives and behaviours is rather complex and is influenced by the cultural norms of where you live, the role of schools, as well as how policymakers and classification institutions decide to regulate in the area.

This podcast addresses everything to do with children's online behaviour, taking Norway and a range of other Nordic and non-Nordic countries as examples. On the way, it answers the following questions:
- Is screen time harmful per se?
- How do we protect children from online harm?
- How has Covid-19 and online teaching affected children’s online lives?
- And what approaches are prevalent in the Nordic countries?

Join the editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, on her virtual visit around the Nordic countries, this time to Elisabeth Staksrud, Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at the University of Oslo to discover the answer to these questions.

This podcast was recorded in February 2021 and is the third in the series: The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region. The fourth in the series is an interview with Gunnþórunn Guðmundsdóttir, Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Iceland. She will be talking about Icelandic literature, Nordic Noir and how writers and cultural commentators frame the past - and how they help people to digest global crises.

Sound credits from freesound.org including mechanical keyboard sound by TolerableDruid6.

Sweden: Uncovering Nordic Education and Society with Janne Holmén

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 11:00:00 +0100

This podcast tackles a wide-range of factors about the educational systems of the Nordic countries, focusing primarily on Sweden and comparisons with Finland. On the way, it answers the following questions:

Why does the Finnish education system have such a good reputation around the world?
After decades of reform, is the Swedish education system in crisis?
How does decision-making and the politics around education in Finland and Sweden differ and how is it similar?
What role do schools and teachers play in the creation of our 'mental maps'? A term usually used by cultural geographers, mental maps encompass many different dimensions of our world view: from an awareness of our country and region’s place in the world, to our view of history and where we sit on an imaginary timeline.
How is all of this influenced by national politicians and institutional systems, and even the international dimension?

Join the editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, on her virtual visit around the Nordic countries, this time to Janne Holmén, Associate Professor in the Department of Education at Uppsala University to discover the answer to these questions. Janne is from the Åland Islands and this has influenced his research interests.

This podcast was recorded in February 2021 and is the second in the series: The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region. The third in the series is an interview with Elisabeth Staksrud, Professor in the Department of Education and Media at Oslo University in Norway. She will be talking about childhood in the Nordics and the online lives of children and young people.

Sound credits from freesound.org including school break noise outdoor.wav by Libra222.

Extra material: The Nordics and Small State Theory

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0100

This is extra material on the The Nordics and Small State Theory from the nordics.info podcast with Janne Holmén, 'Sweden: Uncovering Nordic Education and Society with Janne Holmén' from February 2021.

Iceland: Uncovering the Nordic Welfare State with Stefán Ólafsson

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 11:00:00 +0100

Interested in the Nordic universal welfare systems and how effective welfare can be in times of crisis? How has Iceland fared compared to the other Nordic countries, before and after the Great Recession of 2008? Can this teach us anything about how to tackle Covid?

Join the editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, on her virtual visit around the Nordic countries, this time to Stefán Ólafsson, Professor of Sociology at the University of Iceland. Stefán has had a long career looking at social policy in Iceland and elsewhere, and is one of the editors of the well-known book ’Welfare and the Great Recession: A Comparative Study'.

In this podcast, you will hear an historical overview of Iceland’s welfare policy since the middle of the last century. You will also hear about a range of related issues, like whether Iceland was a failed neoliberal experiment and 'business vikings'.

This podcast was recorded in January 2021 and is the first in the series: The Nordics Uncovered: Critical Voices from the Region. The second in the series is an interview with Janne Holmén, Associate Professor in the Department for Education at Uppsala University in Sweden who will be talking about key geopolitical events and trends and how these influence education policy in the Nordics, as well as what it means to be a 'small state' on the world stage.

Sound credits from freesound.org including "Noir" Reel by Hainbach by makenoisemusic.

Extra material: Icelandic pensions system & means-testing

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0100

This is extra material on the Icelandic pensions system and means-testing from the nordics.info podcast with Stefán Ólafsson, 'Iceland: Uncovering the Nordic Welfare State with Stefán Ólafsson' from January 2021.

Migrant Children in the Nordics: A Conversation on Schooling

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0100

In current times, schools are often hot spots for education policy initiatives driven by party politics. Encounters between the majority ethnic group and newcomer children can be exaggerated or underplayed depending on the political context, and it can be a highly contested area.

In this nordics.info podcast, the head of Aalborg University’s Centre for Education Policy Research, Mette Buchardt, gives a historical overview of developments in Denmark in comparison with the other Nordic countries from the 1950s until today. In so doing, the conversation necessarily covers wider issues, such as, the division between state and church; the use of schooling in molding citizens of the (Nordic) welfare state; and that persistent question: how to create the same provision for all when children have varying needs?

Find further reading and a biography of the participant by clicking here.

The Vikings and Capitalism

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0100

In the ninth century, the word ”viking” in many parts of Europe would have conjured up a terrifying image of violent maurauders teeming forth from their longships and inflicting unspeakable carnage. Today, the word ”viking” is invoked in all sorts of contexts, from underwear and hand-dryer brands to the fantasies of business and management leaders and onwards to home DNA testing kits and their seductive promise of ”Viking heritage”. In this podcast, medieval historian from Aarhus University Richard Cole explores why the Viking era is ‘up for grabs’, and zooms in on why and how some business gurus have latched on to truths, half-truths, and fallacies about the Vikings. In doing so, we explore the paradox that although capitalists may not be able to tell us much about the Vikings, the Vikings end up telling us unexpected things about capitalists.

Warning: Your preconceptions of the Vikings may be challenged by listening to this podcast!

Richard Cole is interviewed by editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe and the podcast was recorded in November 2020 at the department for history at Aarhus University.

Sound credits from freesound including Battlecry by Akrythael.

Kommer Far hjem til Jul? Af Sally Salminen

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0100

I 1944 udgav den berømte finsk-svenske romanforfatter Sally Salminen ’Kommer far hjem til jul?’ som en novelle i magasinet Juleroser. Salminen fik sin berømmelse efter at have vundet en finsk-svensk litteraturpris i 1936 for sin roman Katrina. Hendes berømmelse var måske ikke blot grundet romanens kvalitet og store appel, men også fordi hun skrev den under en ganske usædvanlig omstændighed, mens hun arbejdede som huspige i New York.

Salminen kom fra en stor familie og voksede op med mange brødre og søstre. Hun havde også selv et plejebarn. Hun skriver også om moderskab og krig i to andre noveller: 'Et Barn er fodt os' (1941) og 'Trollet' (1944) og hun udtrykker barndommen og barnets perspektiv i romanerne Lars Laurila og Barndomens land samt i erindringsbogen Upptäcktsresan (1966) (Opdagelsesrejsen).

Tilladelse er givet af Sallys pårørende til offentliggørelse på både dansk og engelsk, der ejer rettighederne til hendes arbejde. Du kan også lytte til en engelske oversættelse af Paul Larkin her. Denne novelle er oplæst af Kieu Anh Nguyen (nordics.info studentermedhjælper).

Læs historien her.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub.

Sounds effects from freesound.org, including 7-14-Crying (14FSmitakovaK, CC BY-NC 3.0) and Fire In Woodburning Stove (Benboncan, CC BY 3.0).

Is Daddy coming home for Christmas? By Sally Salminen

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 08:00:00 +0100

In 1944, the renowned Finland-Swedish novelist Sally Salminen has the short story 'Kommer Far hjem til jul?' (Is Daddy coming home for Christmas?) published in the magazine Juleroser (Christmas Roses). Salminen had shot to fame after winning a Finnish-Swedish literary prize in 1936 for her novel Katrina. Her celebrity status was perhaps not only because of the quality and wide appeal of the novel, but also because she wrote it quite unusually while working as a house maid in New York.

Salminen she came from a big family and grew up with many brothers and sisters. She herself had a foster child. She writes about motherhood and war also in two other short stories: 'Et Barn er fodt os (1941) (A Child is Born to Us), and 'Trollet' (1944) (The Troll), and she pictures childhood and the perspective of the child in the novels Lars Laurila and Barndomens land (The Land of Childhood), as well as in the memoir Upptäcktsresan (1966) (The Trip of Discovery).

Permission has kindly been granted for publication in both Danish and English by Sally’s descendants who own the rights to her work. The English translation is by Paul Larkin. Listen the original Danish version by clicking here.

The story is read out by Anna Kristensen and the podcast is produced by Nicola Witcombe.

You can read the story in English or Danish by clicking here.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Sound effects from freesound.org, including 7-14-Crying (14FSmitakovaK, CC BY-NC 3.0) and Fire In Woodburning Stove (Benboncan, CC BY 3.0).

The Nordic Model at Risk?: Conversations on Regulation

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 08:00:00 +0100

An ageing population, immigration, tax evasion and incoming foreign workers are frequently cited as threats to the Nordic Model. The universal welfare state is built upon citizens and the state fulfilling their particular roles: the state providing childcare, healthcare and benefits in return for people working and paying their taxes (’the social contract’). But don’t these roles require a lot of national regulation? And what happens to them when globalising forces (such as the arrival of workers from overseas, Europeanisation or international financial markets) hit?

In this podcast, we get to hear about some specific challenges which exemplify the overall context of how big and small crises have affected regulation in the Nordics. The podcast was recorded in October 2020 at the annual conference of the Danish European Community Studies Association. Thanks are extended to the organisers for letting nordics.info be a fly on the wall.

Find futher reading and full biographies of the participants by clicking here.

If you would like to hear more about the Nordic Model, check out two earlier podcasts from @KnowledgeOnTheNordics: The Nordic Model: Heaven or Hell, or read more on nordics.info.

Global Audiences of Danish TV Drama

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 11:00:00 +0100

The global success of Danish TV drama in the late 2000s and early 2010s was surprising because of the relatively small number of people who can understand the Danish language and because the programmes were produced largely for a domestic audience by public broadcasting corporations. Audiences around the world appear to have responded to the combination of authenticity, emotional proximity and the portrayal of gender as well as the exotic Nordicness of the series. Many people from the Anglophone community as well as elsewhere were prepared to watch drama with subtitles in English for the first time. In 2020, the wave of hype around these programmes appears to be over, but key aspects, along with what is often considered to be Nordic Noir, arguably still influence mainstream television-making.

Researchers Pia Majbritt Jensen and Ushma Chauhan Jacobsen from Aarhus University are ideally placed to help us find out why Danish TV drama is popular the world over as they have been involved in an interdisciplinary project which started in 2013 involving seven other scholars from Aarhus University and affiliated scholars in eight different countries focusing on The Killing, Borgen and The Bridge.

Listen to Pia and Ushma discuss with editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe, how different players at many different levels from key broadcasters in the television industry down to bloggers created an organic hype around the series, arguably leading to key elements from the series becoming mainstream today.

Find a list of the programmes mentioned in the podcast.

Be sure to listen to the other nordics.info podcasts on Nordic identity, or the Nordic Model.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Gaming the Nordics

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +0100

Around a third of the world’s population play video games. But how are video games used to explore images of the Nordic region? What place do video games occupy in terms of cultural representations? To what extent can video games be considered part of a cultural hegemony from a historical culture perspective?

Nordic regionality is expressed through different applications of game, game design and play. It is used in different ways (such as, counterfactual uses of history or using myth and nostalgia) and in different contexts (such as, using history and heritage). From a practical perspective, regional game production and game consumption by local teams and actors intersect with the mainstream and global game industry in different ways.

This podcast was recorded in September 2020 when the editor of nordics.info Nicola Witcombe caught up with three researchers from the Helsinki Game Research Collective from the University of Helsinki. The three participants - Heidi Rautalahti, Lysiane Lasausse, Ylva Grufstedt - are ideally placed to assist us in finding out more about the subject from different perspectives coming as they do from history, theology and Nordic Noir.

Find a list of the games and books mentioned on nordics.info.

Be sure to listen to the other nordics.info podcasts on Nordic identity, or the Nordic Model.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Nordisk krimi fiktion

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 15:00:00 +0200

Siden 1990'erne har nordisk krimi været en vigtig undergenre inden for den globale krimigenre. Normalt kendetegnet ved socialrealisme, dystre omgivelser og gnavne efterforskere. Kriminalromaner og tv-serier fra hele Norden omhandler indviklede mysterier og spændende historier, der bruger kriminelle plot til at undersøge retfærdighed, lighed, sårbarhed og andre aktuelle debatter, der er specifikke for det nordiske velfærdssamfund. Klassiske eksempler på den nordiske krimi inkluderer moderne tv-klassikere som den danske Forbrydelsen 2007-2012, den danske/svenske samproduktion Bron/Broen (2011-2018) og globale bestsellere af norske Jo Nesbø og svenske Stieg Larsson. Men genren inkluderer også mørke og kritiske fremstillinger af bagsiden af de nordiske lande, og strækker sig tilbage i tiden, helt til litterære værker fra det nittende århundrede.

Artiklen er skrevet af Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen. Det er oversat fra engelsk af nordics.info, er oplæst af Karoline Corfitz (studentermedhjælper på nordics.info) og produceret af Nicola Witcombe.

Klik her for at læse artiklen på engelsk
Klik her for at høre artiklen på engelsk

#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Nordic crime fiction

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0200

Since 1990s, Nordic crime fiction has been a significant sub-genre within the global genre of crime fiction. Usually characterised by social realism, gloomy locations and morose detectives, crime novels and TV series from across the Nordic region provide puzzling mysteries and thrilling stories that use the crime plot to investigate the state of justice, equality, vulnerability and current debates specific to the Nordic welfare societies. The genre includes modern TV classics such as the Danish Forbrydelsen (The Killing, 2007-2012), the Danish/Swedish co-production Bron/Broen (The Bridge, 2011-2018) and global bestsellers by the Norwegian Jo Nesbø and the Swede Stieg Larsson, but it also includes dark and critical images of the underbelly of the Nordic states, which extend further back in history, even to literary works from the nineteenth century.

This podcast is an article written by Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen and is read out and produced by Nicola Witcombe.

You can read the article in English by clicking here.
You can hear the same content in Danish by clicking here.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

The Nordics and identity: innate or imagined?

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:00:00 +0200

Despite a growing focus on national identity in and outside the Nordics, the Nordic regional identity persists. The participants of this podcast explore what is takes to make a region consisting of numerous nation states a success, comparing it to other areas, such as the Baltics and Eastern Europe. An important concrete example that is discussed is an advert produced by Scandinavian Airlines in February of this year, which sought to deconstruct and construct identity markers of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), and received a wave of feedback, both negative and positive. Listen to this podcast which starts its investigation with ideas of regional identity.

Be sure to also listen to the other nordics.info podcast on identity, which focuses more on national identity!
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

The Nordics and identity: unite or divide?

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0200

Academics tend to agree that identity is of particular importance right now. The participants of this podcast explore how different portrayals of history can influence our identity, these portrayals can be in the form of school curricula, museums and cultural institutions, or even company advertising and specific nation-branding. Local and national identities appear to be becoming more dominant than global or regional ones, which were arguably favoured at earlier points in time; concepts of identity are becoming increasingly entrenched leading to a sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Listen to this podcast which starts its investigation with ideas of national identity.

Be sure to listen to the next podcast on identity which focuses more on regional identity!
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Saamelaisen kirjallisuuden lyhyt historia

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0200

Saamelaisen kirjallisuuden historia voidaan jäljittää 1600-luvulta lähtien, ja sen historiaa voidaan tulkita tärkeiden saamelaisten, kansallisten ja kansainvälisten poliittisten liikkeiden kontekstissa. Saamelainen kirjallisuus on saamelaisten eli saamen kansan jäsenten kirjoittamaa kirjallisuutta. Tässä lyhyessä podcastissa kuvataan saamelaista yhteiskunnallispoliittista kehitystä sekä itsenäisen saamelaisen äänen ilmaisua kirjallisuuden kautta.

Tämä podcast on osa sarjaa, joka tarjoaa yhteenvedon tietyistä pohjoismaita käsittelevistä aiheista yhteiskuntatieteiden ja humanististen tieteiden sisällä. Tutkijat ovat kirjoittaneet tekstit, ja nordics.infon ja Aarhusin yliopiston historian laitoksen työntekijät ja ystävät ovat lukeneet ne ääneen eri pohjoismaisilla kielillä ja englanniksi. Tämä podcast perustuu Lill Tove Fredriksonin artikkeliin, sen on lukenut ääneen Tuuli Veikkanen, ja se on nauhoitettu helmikuussa 2020.

Jos olet kiinnostunut kuulemaan lisää, vieraile sivustolla nordics.info.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

A brief history of Sámi literature

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:00:00 +0200

Sámi literature's history can be traced from the 1600s and the course of this history can be interpreted in the context of important Sámi, national and international political movements. Sámi literature is that written by authors who are Sámi, members of the Sámi people. In this short podcast, the Sámi socio-political development will be illustrated as well as the expression of an independent Sámi voice through literature. It is written by Lill Tove Fredriksen, Associate Professor in Sámi Literature at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, and the article is read out by Nicola Witcombe.

You can read the article by clicking here, and watch an interview with the author.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWHub

Dansk indvandrings- og udlændingepolitik, 1970-1992

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 16:00:00 +0200

I 1973 indførte den socialdemokratiske regering et akut indvandringsstop på grund af voksende arbejdsløshed. Indvandring var dog ikke et særligt problematiseret emne i den politiske og offentlige debat i 1970'erne. Fra begyndelsen af 1980'erne kom der stadig flere flygtninge til Danmark, især fra Mellemøsten og den tredje verden, hvor mange lande var hærget af kriser, krige og borgerkrige. I 1983 vedtog Folketinget en ny udlændingelov, der blev kendt som Europas mest liberale. Tilstrømningen til Danmark samt integrationsproblemer fik dog Folketinget til at vedtage en række stramninger af udlændingeloven i 1980'erne. I slutningen af 1980'erne kom udlændingeområdet til at fylde mere i den politiske og offentlige debat, bl.a. fordi Fremskridtspartiet profilerede sig stærkt på området. Artiklen er læst højt af Lasse Byriel Christensen, studentermedhjælper hos nordics.info.

Her kan du læse artiklen på engelsk, og på dansk.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

Danish immigration policy, 1970-1992

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:00:00 +0200

In 1973, the Social Democrat government introduced an immediate stop to labour immigration because of growing unemployment. Immigration was, however, not a particularly problematic subject in the political and public debate in the 1970s. From the beginning of the 1980s, more refugees came to Denmark, particularly from the Middle East and the Global South, where many countries were ravaged by crises, war and civil conflict. In 1983, the Danish Parliament passed a new Aliens Act that was known as Europe’s most liberal. The large numbers of immigrants that subsequently came to Denmark, together with integration problems, led to parliament passing a number of limitations to the Act in 1980s. At the end of the 1980s, immigration became more important in the political and public debate due to, amongst other things, the Progress Party (Fremskridtspartiet) strongly highlighting the issue. The article is read out by Brian Witcombe.

You can read the article in English by clicking here, and in Danish by clicking here.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

Grønlands afkolonisering, 1945-1954

Thu, 28 May 2020 13:00:00 +0200

Umiddelbart efter afslutningen på 2. verdenskrig i 1945 begyndte en verdensomspændende diskussion om afvikling af kolonierne i verden. Diskussionen foregik i det nyligt oprettede FN og kom til at få betydning for Grønlands afkolonisering. Grønland havde været knyttet til Danmark siden missionæren Hans Egedes ankomst til landet i 1721, og landet blev styret som en dansk koloni. I årene 1945-1954 blev spørgsmålet om Grønlands statsretlige stilling et vigtigt led i dansk FN-politik. Den danske regering forsøgte ihærdigt via en række forhandlinger i FN at bevare Grønland som en del af det danske rige. Det lykkedes for regeringen, og ved ændring af Grundloven den 5. juni 1953 ophørte Grønlands status som koloni, og landet blev formelt en ligestillet del af Danmark. Statusændringen blev i 1954 anerkendt af FN. Artiklen er læst højt af Karoline Corfitz, studentermedhjælper hos nordics.info.

Her kan du læse artiklen på engelsk.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

The Danish decolonisation of Greenland, 1945-54

Thu, 28 May 2020 12:00:00 +0200

An international discussion on decolonisation followed in the aftermath of the Second World War in the mid-1940s. The newly formed United Nations created some of the most important platforms for these discussions. Consequently, Danish politicians and civil servants feared that Greenland, the last of the Danish colonies, would attract negative international attention. Greenland had joined the Danish colonial empire when the missionary Hans Egede (1686-1758) began colonisation in 1721. Denmark governed Greenland as a colony for the following two centuries. From 1945 to 1954, the question of Greenland’s colonial status formed one of the most important aspects with respect to Danish ambitions in the UN. Denmark conducted a series of meetings and sat on several committees in order to influence the international community to accept a continued Danish presence in Greenland. It succeeded. When the Danish electorate voted for changes to the Danish constitution in 1953, Denmark simultaneously integrated Greenland as a county. The UN recognised Greenland’s new status in 1954. The article is read out by Brian Witcombe.

You can read the article here.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

The reunification of Denmark 1920

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0200

The reunification of Southern Jutland with Denmark was made possible in 1920 with the German defeat in the First World War. It took place in June 1920 after a process that in fact started with the German admission of defeat in October 1918 and its ensuing request for an armistice. The reunification followed a plebiscite in the concerned areas. In Denmark, questions over reunification ignited heated political debate, as there was a widespread wish that southern parts of Schleswig should be incorporated into Danish territory as well. The article is read out by editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe.

You can read the article here.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

Genforening 1920

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0200

Genforeningen af Sønderjylland med Danmark i 1920 blev muliggjort af Tysklands nederlag i 1. verdenskrig. Den fandt sted i juni 1920 efter et forløb, der tog sin begyndelse i oktober 1918, da Tyskland erkendte sit nederlag og bad om våbenhvile. Genforeningen blev konkret gennemført efter en folkeafstemning i de berørte områder. I Danmark gav genforeningsspørgsmålet dog anledning til megen politisk debat, da vide kredse ønskede, at også dele af Sydslesvig skulle indlemmes i Danmark. Artiklen er læst højt af Karoline, studentermedhjælper hos nordics.info.

Her kan du læse artiklen på engelsk.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

The Nordic Model: Heaven or hell? – podcast number II

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 12:00:00 +0200

In this podcast, researchers examine how the Nordic model is framed and used in and outside Norden. They present examples of how different aspects of the Nordic Model have been applied outside the Nordics, and how these attempts (and the global use of the term 'Nordic Model') has reflected back on the Nordic countries, defining in many ways how they see themselves. This podcast also illuminates a more general impulse to create understandable frameworks (like ‘models’) in order to fathom complex political and cultural patterns. Can policymakers elsewhere pick from a 'smorgasbord' of different social and economic policies that make up the 'Nordic Model', as one of the participants puts it? The three researchers are Carl Marklund, Byron Rom-Jensen and Andreas Mørkved Hellenes and are involved in the research project 'Nordic model(s) in the global circulation of ideas'. The presenter is editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe. It is the second of two podcasts about the Nordic Model and was recorded at the Institute for Contemporary History at Södertörn University, Sweden in October 2019.
#nordicsinfo #ReNEWhub

The Nordic Model: Heaven or hell? – podcast number I

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 15:00:00 +0200

This podcast introduces the concept of the Nordic Model and gives examples of how it is perceived as 'good' and 'bad' by differing groups. The three participating researchers discuss, amongst other things, that there are many different Nordic Models and the idea of the Nordic Model has changed over time and geography. Could the essence of the Nordic Model in fact be its flexibility, or ‘chameleon-like’ quality, as one of the participants puts it? The three researchers are Carl Marklund, Byron Rom-Jensen and Andreas Mørkved Hellenes and are involved in the research project 'Nordic model(s) in the global circulation of ideas'. The presenter is editor of nordics.info, Nicola Witcombe. It is the first of two podcasts about the Nordic Model and was recorded at the Institute for Contemporary History at Södertörn University, Sweden in October 2019.

Find this podcast on YouTube for subtitles, or more information on the Nordic Model on nordics.info.

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