Nationalism/transnationalism, Gender Equality and Welfare

Feminist scholars have pointed out that constructions of gender and gender equality are embedded in national narratives and politics of belonging (Yuval-Davis 2011; Siim & Mokre 2013). This project aims to explore gendered approaches to nationalism and analyse how nationalism in Scandinavia is associated with ‘social democratic’ perceptions of welfare and gender equality. Scholars (Brochmann and Hagelund 2010;2012) have pointed towards a specific form of Scandinavian welfare nationalism which is challenged by globalization and increased migration. The project explores gender equality as a key aspect of the Scandinavian politics of belonging and what the implications are for our understanding of the challenges in the contemporary politics of gender and welfare in Scandinavia. Case-studies of political parties address the problematic ways in which contemporary nationalist parties in Sweden, Denmark and Norway have linked national belongings with support for the welfare state and gender equality politics. These empirical studies in turn raise theoretical, normative and analytical questions about understandings and conceptualizations of the nationalism, welfare and gender.