State and Civil Society in Northern Europe : : The Swedish Model Reconsidered / / ed. by Lars Trägårdh.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Berghahn Books Complete eBook-Package 2000-2013
• MitwirkendeR: Amnå, Erik,; Baer, Douglas,; Cohen, Jean L,; Jeppsson Grassman, Eva,; Rothstein, Bo,; Selle, Per,; Svedberg, Lars,; Tranvik, Tommy,; Trägårdh, Lars,
• HerausgeberIn: Trägårdh, Lars,
• Place / Publishing House: New York ;, Oxford : : Berghahn Books, , [2007]; ©2007
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Language: English
• Series: Studies on Civil Society ; 3
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (296 p.)

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.

Table of Contents

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