STV4348 - Scandinavian Democracy spring 2008

STV4348B: Scandinavian Democracy

Answer both of the questions:

1) In his classical article on Norway in the 1966 volume on political
opposition sin Western democracies Stein Rokkan coined the term
"Votes count but recources decide" as a shorthand description of
decision-making processes in Norway. Compare this dictum with what
you have learnt from the Norwegian Power and Democracy Study.
Is the Rokkan thesis still valid? In what way must it be modified
in the light of the Power and Democracy Study?

2) Discuss the major factors involved in the rise and stability of social
democratic hegemony in Norway and Sweden (including similarities and
differences between the social democratic and liberal notions of the
public sphere and civic organising). Conclude with notes on the
fate of social democracy within the framework of global and neo-liberal
regimes.