1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910798470103321

Titolo

State and civil society in Northern Europe : the Swedish model reconsidered / / edited by Lars Trägårdh

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York : , : Berghahn Books, , 2007

ISBN

1-84545-232-1

1-84545-187-2

1-78238-200-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (294 pages) : illustrations

Collana

European civil society ; ; volume 3

Disciplina

300.948

Soggetti

Civil society - Sweden

Democracy - Sweden

Social capital (Sociology) - Sweden

Democracy Sweden

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES -- CONTRIBUTORS -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- EDITORS’ PREFACE -- INTRODUCTION -- Chapter 1 THE “CIVIL SOCIETY” DEBATE IN SWEDEN: THE WELFARE STATE CHALLENGED -- Chapter 2 CIVIL SOCIETY AND GLOBALIZATION: RETHINKING THE CATEGORIES -- Chapter 3 VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION INVOLVEMENT IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE -- Chapter 4 CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN A SCANDINAVIAN WELFARE STATE: PATTERNS IN CONTEMPORARY SWEDEN -- Chapter 5 ASSOCIATIONAL LIFE, YOUTH, AND POLITICAL CAPITAL FORMATION IN SWEDEN: HISTORICAL LEGACIES AND CONTEMPORARY TRENDS -- Chapter 6 MORE CENTRALIZATION, LESS DEMOCRACY: THE DECLINE OF THE DEMOCRATIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORWAY -- Chapter 7 THE STATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: THE SWEDISH CASE -- Chapter 8 DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND THE CREATION OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN SWEDEN: THE DISCREET CHARM OF GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSIONS -- INDEX

Sommario/riassunto

In the current neo-liberal political and economic climate, it is often suggested that a large and strong state stands in opposition to an



autonomous and vibrant civil society. However, the simultaneous presence in Sweden of both a famously large public sector and an unusually vital civil society poses an interesting and important theoretical challenge to these views with serious political and policy implications. Studies show that in a comparative context Sweden scores very highly when it comes to the strength and vitality of its civil society as well as social capital, as measured in terms of trust, lack of corruption, and membership of voluntary associations. The “Swedish Model,” therefore, offers important insights into the dynamics of state and civil society relations, which go against current trends of undermining the importance of the welfare state, and presents autonomous civic participation as the only way forward.