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From revolution to hegemony

The Age of Social Democracy: Norway and Sweden in the Twentieth Century, written by Francis Sejersted, presents the history of Norway and Sweden from the dissolution of the union in 1905 through to the end of the century. The book has recently been published by Princeton University Press.

Sejersted, Francis

Francis Sejersted

In the twentieth century, Norway and Sweden built social democracies that were the envy of the world. Senior researcher at the Institute for Social Research, Francis Sejersted, tells the story of  how these two societies developed from revolutionary beginnings to a hegemonic social order that left its stamp on every sector of society. From economics and a modern welfare state, through to culture, education and family.

Sejersted describes how  the freedom and rights movement in the 1980spartly resulted in an erosion of social democracy. In spite of the fracturing of consensus and the many economic and social challenges facing Norway and Sweden today, the achievement of their welfare states remains largely intact.

The book is a revised version of a book with the same title published in Norwegian and Swedish in 2005 as part of a two-volume work written to commemorate the dissolution of the union in 1905. The first volume, written by Bo StrĂ¥th, covered the history of Norway and Sweden from during the time of the union from 1814 to 1905.

Read more:
Francis Sejersted: The Age of Social Democracy: Norway and Sweden in the Twentieth Century

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