Nordic Perspective Research Articles

Nordic perspectives on phenomenology: an introduction

During the past few decades, research on and work in phenomenology has increased remarkably in the Nordic countries. One concrete manifestation of (and perhaps also a partial reason for) this development is the Nordic Society for Phenomenology (NoSP), which was established in 2001 in order to promote dialogue and cooperation between phenomenologists in the Nordic countries. This forum has been highly successful and has attracted a lot of attention. Membership statistics speak for themselves: in 2004, the Society had about 100 members, by 2008, the amount of members had tripled and, today, the Society already has more than 800 members. In light of these numbers, it hardly comes as a surprise that NoSP has also attracted a lot of attention outside the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). The number of submissions for the annual meetings of the Society indeed makes it evident that the Nordic countries constitute and comprise an important focal point in contemporary phenomenological research. Does phenomenology from the Nordic countries amount to a distinct Nordic perspective on this branch of philosophy? Although the Nordic countries do share a set of ethnic, religious, and historical characteristics, and although there is something like a recognizable cultural unity in the Nordic region, there is no clearly identifiable Nordic approach to phenomenology. Nevertheless, when taking a bird’s eye perspective on the way phenomenology has developed in the region, one noteworthy feature is the extent to which phenomenologists have engaged and cooperated with other traditions, schools of thought, and scientific disciplines. Ties have been made with analytic philosophy, critical theory, pragmatism, and

Book Review: Freedom of Expression Revisited: Citizenship and Journalism in the Digital Era, edited by Ulla Carlsson

of Expression Revisited: Citizenship and Journalism in the Digital Era. Ulla Carlsson, ed. Goteborg, Sweden: Nordicom, 2013. 169 pp. $30 pbk.In reading of Expression Revisited: Citizenship and Journalism in the Digital Era, one can be reminded of two phenomena about free speech/press issues when comparing the Nordic/European and U.S. contexts: (1) how similar they are, and (2) how different they are.Freedom of Expression Revisited (FOER) is an anthology of ten chapters (plus an Introduction), most written by a communication scholar from a Nordic country. It is a follow-up to 2009's of Speech Abridged? Cultural, Legal and Philosophical Challenges, a similar compendium published by the same group, the Nordic Information Centre for Media and Communication Research (NORDICOM). Not surprisingly, therefore, the book has a decidedly Nordic perspective. This focus is not only acknowledged from the start, the book uses that to its advantage: first, the region is an ideal laboratory for the kind of study and analysis the chapters reveal. Not only is the Nordic region-Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden-among the most wired in the world, it also rates high on global indices for democracy, welfare, and lack of corruption. Second, though not its primary goal, FOER demonstrates that the Nordic region is a microcosm of many free expression issues globally.The Nordic standpoint has much in common with the U.S. view. For example, the introduction by Ulla Carlsson, the chair of NORDICOM, contains several nuggets of universal applicability. From the start, the reader learns that as in the United States, there is a widespread concern about the ability of the media to maintain and develop their role as a pillar of democracy. Although it is recognized that the digital age presents growing opportunities to achieve the precondition for a democracy of wellinformed citizens, the era also presents new opportunities to restrict those communication pathways. Chapter authors highlight a host of issues familiar to Americans. That one of them is an endorsement of the notion that of expression principles should be technology neutral especially resonates as the United States continues its debate over net neutrality.FOER is divided into two sections, the first six chapters comprising Views from a Nordic Perspective. Its chapters are authored not by of expression scholars, but mostly by communication scholars whose pieces situate free expression within broad social, cultural, or political contexts. Thus, herein lies one of the book's several doubled-edged swords: it may not contain the kind of approaches to free expression that First Amendment scholars may expect, particularly in a work whose title contains freedom of expression. Once past any hurdle that may get created, however, the reader will find the perspectives provided to be enlightening. A chapter titled Deconstructing Libertarian Myths about Press Freedom is especially thought provoking. Kaarle Nordenstreng, a professor emeritus in the School of Communication, Media and Theatre at Finland's University of Tampere, provides a critical analysis of and of expression as a paradigm. …

Barriers and opportunities for application of CCS in Nordic industry—A sectorial approach

The potential for implementing carbon capture in Nordic industry sectors such as iron and steel production, cement and lime production, onshore and offshore oil and gas activities and pulp and paper production has been addressed. In Norway, much of the CO2 is emitted from the oil and gas sector. In Denmark the power and heat production comprises the largest share while in Sweden and Finland biomass based industry such as power and heat production in CHP plants and pulp and paper production generates most of the CO2 emissions. Iceland emits most CO2 from metal industry, in particular non-ferrous metal production. In a Nordic perspective, the oil and gas industry has a high potential for implementation of CCS along with iron and steel production and cement production. Only cement production and pulp and paper production industries seem to have potential to decrease the CO2 emissions close to zero. Capturing biogenic CO2 from pulp and paper production could remove CO2 from the atmosphere and create a carbon sink. Clustering of emission sources and implementing a joint CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) chain could possibly lower the CCS unit costs. Process alterations and industry specific solutions due to the implementation of CCS in industry could improve existing processes. However, the possibility for carbon leakage could decrease the competitiveness of Nordic industries significantly as long as there is no global agreement on reduction of CO2 emissions.

Global art history: a view from the North

“Southern” perspectives on unequal development are undeniably much needed. Yet, Southern perspectives on art and culture sometimes construct a homogenising image of the West. As a result, they are prone to uphold and perhaps even reinforce the dichotomy between “the North” and “the South” rather than deconstruct it. Conversely, this article aims to pluralise the West by contributing to the discussion of differential perspectives on art and cultural identity within the West. I wish to suggest that a Northern perspective—or to be more specific, a semi-peripheral Nordic perspective—might provide scholars based in this region with a productive entry point into the study of the globalised art forms of today. By consciously and self-critically positioning ourselves in the semi-periphery of the global art world, we may be able to develop a kind of inside–outside perspective similar to the “stereo-scopic vision” that Salman Rushdie famously attributed to migrants. Seeing the Western art world from the inside as well as the outside invariably involves comparison and inter- or cross-cultural analysis. Thus, contemporary comparative approaches would need to build on a critical revision of the Eurocentric bias endemic in art history's long tradition of cross-cultural comparison. Accordingly, the second aim of this article is to discuss the potential of comparative approaches and, in continuation thereof, what scholars in the Nordic semi-periphery could learn from the Southern perspectives of post- and decolonial studies.

CSR and Beyond. A Nordic Perspective

CSR and Beyond. A Nordic Perspective

Reimbursement of hormonal contraceptives and the frequency of induced abortion among teenagers in Sweden

BackgroundReduction in costs of hormonal contraceptives is often proposed to reduce rates of induced abortion among young women. This study investigates the relationship between rates of induced abortion and reimbursement of dispensed hormonal contraceptives among young women in Sweden. Comparisons are made with the Nordic countries Finland, Norway and Denmark.MethodsOfficial statistics on induced abortion and numbers of prescribed and dispensed hormonal contraceptives presented as “Defined Daily Dose/thousand women” (DDD/T) aged 15-19 years were compiled and related to levels of reimbursement in all Swedish counties by using public official data. The Swedish numbers of induced abortion were compared to those of Finland, Norway and Denmark. The main outcome measure was rates of induced abortion and DDD/T.ResultsNo correlation was observed between rates of abortion and reimbursement among Swedish counties. Nor was any correlation found between sales of hormonal contraceptives and the rates of abortion. In a Nordic perspective, Finland and Denmark, which have no reimbursement at all, and Norway all have lower rates of induced abortion than Sweden.ConclusionsReimbursement does not seem to be enough in order to reduce rates of induced abortion. Evidently, other factors such as attitudes, education, religion, tradition or cultural differences in each of Swedish counties as well as in the Nordic countries may be of importance. A more innovative approach is needed in order to facilitate safe sex and to protect young women from unwanted pregnancies.

Commentary on a Nordic Perspective on ICT in Teaching and Learning

Commentary on a Nordic Perspective on ICT in Teaching and Learning

The fulfilment of knowledge expectations during the perioperative period of patients undergoing knee arthroplasty – a Nordic perspective

To describe the possible differences between knowledge expectations and received knowledge of patients undergoing elective knee arthroplasty in Iceland, Sweden and Finland and also to determine the relationship between such a difference and both background factors and patient satisfaction with care. Knee arthroplasty is a fast-growing and a successful treatment for patients with osteoarthritis. Patient education can improve surgery outcomes, but it remains unknown what knowledge patients expect to receive and actually acquire during the perioperative period and what factors are related to that experience. Descriptive, prospective survey. In total, 290 patients answered questionnaires about their expectations (Knowledge Expectations of hospital patients - scale) before surgery and about received knowledge (Received Knowledge of hospital patients - scale) and satisfaction with hospital care (Patient Satisfaction Scale) at discharge. Sociodemographics, clinical information, accessibility to knowledge from healthcare providers (Access to Knowledge Scale), and preferences for information and behavioural control (Krantz Health Opinion Survey) were collected as background data. Patients' knowledge expectations were higher (mean 3·6, SD 0·4) than their perception of received knowledge (mean 3·0, SD 0·7). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that access to knowledge, information preferences and work experience within health- or social care explained 33% (R²) of the variation in the difference between received and expected knowledge. Patients reported high satisfaction with their care except regarding how their family was involved. Patients undergoing knee arthroplasty receive less knowledge than they expect, and individual factors and communication with healthcare providers during hospitalisation are related to their experience. The content of patient education and family involvement should be considered in future care. The results strengthen the knowledge base on the educational needs of knee arthroplasty patients and can be used to develop and test new interventions.

Otherness, social welfare and social work – a Nordic perspective

In this article, we discuss how the other and otherness have been understood in the modern and postmodern social science literature and thinking. We are asking, what kind of relevance can discussions on the other and otherness hold for social work. Our particular interest is to discuss the issue in the context of the Nordic welfare system and through Nordic scholars. A meta-level reflection of classical concepts may be useful to scrutinize the thematic of the other and otherness in the field of social work. We are drawing on examples of our own empirical studies to illustrate the complexity of phenomena which we are dealing with. The literature concerning other and otherness give ingredients for a dichotomy map which describes the multidimensional character of otherness. The levels of macro, mezzo and micro filter through each other, and the dynamics of the multilayered and intertwined relations should be caught in applicable understanding for social work. Our aim in this article is to make a proposal for further development of the concepts other and otherness in the use of social work.

Match-manipulation in football - the challenges faced in Finland

During the last few years, an increasing number of match-manipulation cases in different sport disciplines have been detected all over the world. Also in Finland there have been, during the very recent years, cases of match-manipulation in football. Match-manipulation is not a new phenomenon in Finland; at the turn of the millennium, some clubs in Finnish pesäpallo (a special type of baseball) faced allegations of betting-related match-manipulation. As a result of these allegations, twenty persons, all of them Finnish nationals, were sentenced for fraud in 2001. As a result of these very recent cases of match-manipulation in football in Finland sentences have been imposed for bribery in business. This research analyses match-manipulation in football. It aims to provide a deep and systematic analysis of the phenomena by discussing its magnitude, link to transnational organised criminality as well as the reasons and the motivations behind the phenomenon. The research identifies different modus operandi of match-manipulation, also highlighting the points of vulnerability. The emphasis of the research is on the prevention side and the focus is on Finland. The aim is on mapping and analysing the Finnish legal responses against match-manipulation, the Finnish criminal code 19.12.1889/39 and the relevant criminal case law are in the centre of the research. A short comparative part is presented to illustrate the Nordic perspective on combating the phenomenon. A hybrid of methods is used: legal dogmatics, criminological theories and criminal policy views are combined. This research works as an opener for further research of match-manipulation in Finland, in Scandinavia and also globally.

From Ling to the academic era – An analysis of the history of ideas in PT from a Nordic perspective

There has been little interest in the historical development and the history of ideas of physiotherapy (PT). The overall aim in this study is to explore the origin and main ideas, concepts and patterns of thoughts in PT and their change over time from 1830–1979 in Finland and Sweden in order to increase the understanding of PT. The study uses a history of ideas approach and is based on Gadamer's hermeneutic ontology, which closely links thinking and conceptualization. The material consisted of textbooks used in PT education, articles from scientific and professional journals, chronicles, minutes and reports from government inquiry. A holistic and naturalistic perspective on PT were early arisen and constant distinctive, but through various forms. A pattern of thought over times is movement as a natural and curative health promoting agent in contrast to a medical remedy. The main ideas of physiotherapy can be understood according to three perspectives on movement: the health cure, the medical cure and the exercise cure. The main ideas form a basis for understanding movement as the core concept of physiotherapy. PT has a knowledge base of its own that has preserved over time, distinct from medicine and other health disciplines.

Social Relations at the Collective Level: The Meaning and Measurement of Collective Control in Research on the Psychosocial Work Environment

In this article, we suggest that organizational-level social relations should be defined and measured as workplace norms. We base this argument on new research on the components of the psychosocial work environment and on the availability of new techniques for measuring and analyzing workplace norms as organizational properties. Workplace norms emerge from interactions and negotiations among organizational actors, through which patterns of behavior, attitudes, and perspectives become defined as legitimate. This is an underestimated dimension of the psychosocial work environment that should be assessed with two types of data: self-reports by employees of their experiences in the workplace (task-level control) and self-reports by employees and employers of collective or group-level norms. Hierarchical linear modeling is an especially useful tool for analyzing the relationships between workplace norms and different organizational outcomes because it allows researchers to separate the effects of individual-level variables from group or organizational-level factors. Our approach is anchored in the Nordic perspective of the work environment developed over the past 50 years.

Rescaling and urban-regional restructuring in Finland and in the Helsinki region

While Finland has traditionally been a country where major political forces have put important emphasis on balancing the regional structure and supporting the peripheral regions, development since the 1990s has been characterised by growing regional differences and increasing dominance of centralising tendencies. In the first decade of the new millennium, these tendencies have further intensified. This article analyses the processes, dynamics and underlying rationalities of this state restructuring and state spatial transformation in Finland and in the Helsinki region, the capital area of the country. The developments in Finland are placed in broader international context as they are analysed in relation to recent debates on state rescaling. The validity of some of the core arguments presented in these debates is examined in the Finnish context. The case of the Helsinki region and Finland is also set into a Nordic perspective by presenting a comparison of rescaling tendencies in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark and Norway). The findings are mixed, as there are both elements supporting the rescaling thesis and clear deviations from the core arguments.

MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer from a Nordic perspective

Background. The first Nordic protocol for three-dimensional (3D) planned radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer was the prospective NOCECA study (1994–2000). NOCECA consisted of computed tomography (CT)-based 3D conformal external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) to the primary tumour combined with brachytherapy (BT) based on x-ray imaging. In NOCECA the planning aim was to achieve 80 Gy at point A from EBRT and BT combined. However, the balance of dose between EBRT and BT was determined by tumour size at diagnosis with more EBRT dose given to point A and less by BT in more advanced stages. In 2005 image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optimisation of the BT dose distribution to the remaining tumour and cervix at time of BT (HR CTV) was introduced in Aarhus. EBRT remained like in NOCECA until 2008 when the SIB to the primary tumour was abandoned and IMRT was introduced as routine technique. In this study, we report outcome of our first five-year experience with IGABT using our NOCECA cohort as reference. Material and methods. The NOCECA cohort comprising 99 patients was compared with 140 consecutive patients treated by IGABT. Patients with para-aortic nodes were excluded in NOCECA but were present in 9% of the patients treated with IGABT. No patient in NOCECA received chemotherapy whereas concomitant cisplatin was given to 79% of the IGABT patients. Results. With IGABT actuarial local control was 91% at three years. When comparing NOCECA with IGABT overall survival was significantly improved from 63% to 79% (p = 0.005). In parallel, both moderate and severe late morbidity were reduced by about 50% (p = 0.02). Conclusion. Introduction of IGABT reduced morbidity and generated a very high rate of local control, which likely has improved survival by at least as much as concomitant chemotherapy.

Teamwork within the Nordic model

PurposeThe purpose of this editorial is to introduce the special issue from the IWOT conferences in 2012, focusing on teamwork within the Nordic model.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies the content of the Nordic model and discusses how it is relevant for high performing autonomous teams, especially connected to teams with a high level of autonomy.FindingsShared leadership is positive for team performance when team autonomy is high. The paper identifies eight important variables for creating high performing cross‐functional teams, the role of trust between workers and supervisors in order to unlock standards, and emphasizes the role of industrial relations as an important support system for team work.Originality/valueThis editorial provides an overview of the Nordic perspective of autonomous teams contained in the special issue which comprises four original articles that are examples of latest developments in this research area. Each of these articles contains a brief introduction on how they contribute to filling in gaps in the literature.

The Principle of Shareholder Primacy in Company Law from a Nordic and European Regulatory Perspective

In the EU as well as in the US there is an ongoing debate of which role shareholders should play in companies. This debate includes both theoretical discussions on the nature of companies and practical discussions on the various situations where shareholder involvement is required. The role of shareholders in companies life is considerably different in the EU Member States and in the US.A shareholder-oriented approach prevails in the US and de facto also in the UK, while a more stakeholder-oriented view often is said to dominate in the Nordic countries as well as in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. One of the main aims of the European Commission’s Action Plan is to strengthen the position of shareholders in the company. In order to ensure that the shareholders are able to play an active role in the company’s decision–making process, a growing number of measures have been adopted both at national and EU level which shall ensure an improvement of the corporate governance system. Moreover, several recommendations have been drafted by the Commission with the aim to improve transparency and shareholder influence.The terms characterizing this debate differ: In the Nordic countries the term ‘active ownership’ (‘aktivt ejerskab’) is often used; in the international debate terms like ‘shareholder activism’ and ‘shareholder democracy’ are used to refer to the discussion of the role of shareholders. Especially, but not only, in the American debate the term shareholder primacy is used. However, all these terms are merely headlines which should be filled out and codified by rules of (national) Companies Acts. The underlying message of active ownership is that the law should provide for easier access for shareholders to be active owners. Shareholder activism requires that constraints on shareholder control should be removed and that shareholders, namely institutional shareholders, should (be obliged to) use their voting rights and other means of influence. Shareholder democracy asks for an approach which gives shareholders the power to influence and to determine a company’s course of life. Consequently the different terms define, to a certain extent, a common basis for the role of shareholders. In short, this common basis implies that shareholders are the ultimate decision-takers of the company and define the company’s objective. This common basis is the fundamental content of the term shareholder primacy which is more closely examined in this article. The goal of this article is to define the principle in a Nordic and European perspective, however the focus is mainly on Nordic company law. The European principle may not necessarily be identical with the US concept.It is important to address the role of shareholders when drafting European company law provisions. In order to secure consistency in European regulation and work for European convergence in company law, it is in our view to seek for and to define a general principle on European shareholder primacy from a regulatory perspective.

Ethics in dental education from a Nordic perspective

The general aim of ethics in dental education is to provide an introduction to ethical reasoning and a methodology for ethical analysis to enable students to justify their moral choices. How this aim is pursued from a Nordic perspective is discussed in the present paper by giving a description of the teaching of ethics in dental education in Denmark, Norway and Finland. An account is given of the teaching at the pre-clinical level as well as the clinical level with a focus on the specific aim, topics, extent, methods of teaching and whether the courses are mandatory with final exams. It is concluded that a common factor is that the teaching encompass lectures as well as sessions devoted to case-studies as an important element. Furthermore a characteristic and common perspective in the three countries is the primacy of respect for the patients´ autonomy and informed consent in the relationship between the dentist and his/her patient.

Introduction

In this issue, NJWLS opens a new section with reviews. We review three new books, based on professional research, on “Organizational Misbehavior,” “Dirty Work,” and “The Work of Managers.” In the coming issues, we will bring more reviews of English-language books based on Nordic working life research.This issue includes six articles where we start off by Abrahamsson and Johansson, who give us a short but comprehensive presentation of how psychosocial work environment has been understood in research and policy over 100 years, with Sweden as the focal point. Short, because they write in the format of an article. Comprehensive, because the authors take a broad understanding of the psychosocial work environment comprising “health/illness,” where factors such as stress and burnout are central, “management and development,” where employee involvement, learning, and innovation are central, and “problematization,” which includes critically oriented research on the nature of work. The article not only provides an overview of the research that has been done in this area in the last 100 years but also relates research to policy and practice. The article thus provides a valuable perspective on today’s research and public debate on the works, with a Nordic perspective (...)

Depression and Antidepressants: A Nordic Perspective

The Nordic countries are all established welfare states, and there has for some time existed a notion of a distinctive Nordic or Scandinavian welfare state. Considerable differences seem to exist between for example the psychiatric services within, as well as between, the Nordic countries when it comes to history, mental health acts and allocation of resources. Some argue that it is not even possible to speak of a common Nordic political approach to public health, since all programs contain contradictory policies and ideological statements regarding the emphasis on individual behavior versus choice and living conditions and political responsibilities. Lately, the Nordic countries have performed well in comparative research of health policy in European countries but also regarding health care system in OECD countries. While it appears that the case for the existence of a Nordic model is strong there is actually no consensus of the precise specification of the feature that defines the model. Despite similarities in health care and health policy performance the Nordic countries seem to be quite diverse regarding the prevalence of depression (and the information provided) and sales of antidepressants. (Less)

Projections of climate change impacts on crop production: A global and a Nordic perspective

Global climate is changing and food production is very sensitive to weather and climate variations. Global assessments of climate change impacts on food production have been made since the early 1990s, initially with little attention to the uncertainties involved. Although there has been abundant analysis of uncertainties in future greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts on the climate system, uncertainties related to the way climate change projections are scaled down as appropriate for different analyses and in modelling crop responses to climate change, have been neglected. This review paper mainly addresses uncertainties in crop impact modelling and possibilities to reduce them. We specifically aim to (i) show ranges of projected climate change-induced impacts on crop yields, (ii) give recommendations on use of emission scenarios, climate models, regionalization and ensemble crop model simulations for different purposes and (iii) discuss improvements and a few ‘known unknowns’ affecting crop impact projections.