New Theoretical Perspectives on the Nordic Model of Work-Family Reconciliations

Norway is on top in surveys on living conditions, happiness, prosperity and trust between people. Meanwhile, the Norwegian society is criticized for having too large a welfare state, and lack of diversity in the society. The book "The Norwegian model. Internationalization as a challenge and vitalization" discusses how increasing internationalization affects and challenges the way Norway have chosen to organize society. The entries in the book are based on a wide range of current research on the Norwegian work and welfare model: What has happened to Norway's position as a leader in collaboration and democracy in the workplace? What does the Norwegian oil history tell us about the tripartite cooperation as a competitive factor? What happens when a business tries to export the Norwegian model to another country? Is the sustainability of the model undermined through social dumping? How is gender equality challenged by transnational care chains? What will it take for the society to be able to integrate groups of poor immigrants and prevent exclusion? The book provides useful insights for researchers, policy makers and social partners.

This is a joint project between ISS/NTNU and ISF. The project is motivated by the Sociology evaluation panel (2010) who points out that research in the interface between organization and work, the welfare state and family, gender and sexuality constitutes some of the most important areas in Norwegian sociology; that it contributes to the international sociological research community; and that there is potential for further theorizing in line with the international interest in the Nordic model. The evaluat ion of NFR's program on Work life research (2009) gave both institutions (represented by this research team) favorable assessments and characterized them as being in the international research front. On the one hand Nordic work-family policy is internat ionally understood as a modern-day utopia accommodating the needs of parental care giving and market work according to egalitarian ideals. On the other hand the success of the Nordic model of work-family reconciliation is rated as "half-full". Structures and cultures continue to shape gendered agencies in ways that undermine gender equality in both private and public spheres. The project team will work with outstanding international scholars in the field aspiring to develop new understanding of the Nordic situation. Relevant theories are the cultural perspective, which sees the work/life balance as a question of everyday practical morality, and the institutional perspective where the organization between the state, market and family are in focus. The st udy will be based on three ongoing empirical studies conducted by the research team: 1) The flexibility of the father's quota in a multicultural Norwegian society. 2) Is family-friendliness enough? 3) The Norwegian model in international companies locate d in Norway. The projects focus on different levels of analysis. Together they will constitute the empirical basis for theorizing and international publication.