Table of Contents

Part 1 Scandinavia - past and present: the eight wings of the swan - the geo-politics of the Nordic region; nation-building and state-building in the Nordic region, 1809-1944 beyond - why 5+3 and not 2+6 or indeed 8?. Part 2 The Scandinavian party system in developmental perspective: the emergence of the Scandinavian party systems(s) - a basic 2+3 configuration?; the historic strengths of the five main party types in the Nordic region - the whys and the wherefores. Part 3 Parties, voters and social change - w(h)ither the Scandinavian party system model?: "earthquake elections" asnd new parties - the "unfreezing" of the Scandinavian party systems; party system change in Scandinavian since 1970 - "restricted change" or "general change"?. Part 4 A (the) Nordic model?: a Nordic model of government - myth or reality?; the Nordic welfare model - a case of "paradise lost"?. Part 5 legislative-executive relations in the Nordic region: a distinctively " Scandinavian form of parliamentarism"?; the dual executive in Iceland and Finland - "semi-presidential government" in more than name?. Part 6 The Nordic states in their strategic external environment: the origins of the post-war security configuration in Northern Europe; security and co-operation in the Nordic region 1949-91; the Nordic states in the New Europe - still "reluctant Europeans"?; the Nordic states on the eve of the new millennium.

About the Author

David Arter is an Emeritus Professor and Director of Research at the University of Tampere, Finland

Reviews

"Arter provides a solid and extended treatment of the Scandinavian party system(s)." -- "Choice"