Answer (1 of 26): In my generation, almost everyone I know have worked either in Denmark or in Norway. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan described Finland and Sweden as a "hatchery" for terror groups. Turkey says Sweden has supported members. Life here is pretty comfortable, more so for indigenous families than for immigrants or ambitious go-getters (Google "Jantelov" for more on this), but as with all the Nordic nations, it remains largely free of armed conflict, extreme poverty, natural disasters and Jeremy Kyle. Now modern historians have done pretty good job demolishing these old myths but unfortunately most people don't read history books so they mindlessly parrot these old myths. It was part of Sweden for 600 years, and the cultures are similar, a minority of Finns speak Swedish, surely they are Swedish? So you know, only we can criticize each other, and if other countries try it, they need to shut up. After decades dreaming of life among olive trees and vineyards, these days for some reason, we Brits are now projecting our need for the existence of an earthly paradise northwards. It may be no surprise to hear that Northern Europe is top of the charts in SDGs with Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Austria as the top sustainable countries leading the way in creating a more sustainable world. Swedes in Malm similarly aren't too fond of Danes from Copenhagen with a comparably higher average wage being a much larger city coming in and buying . , This blog uses affiliate links and cookies, Growing Your Travel Blog Through Branding . They may have different policies on border control. Take the Danes, for instance. Finnish Member of Parliament Paivi Rasanen and . Others disagree and hold that Norwegians raise their children the same as Danes and Swedes do. Anything I say about the Swedes will pale in comparison to their own excoriating self-image. The PKK have carried out scores of attacks within Turkey. The countries established diplomatic relations in 1905, after the dissolution of the union.. Sweden has an embassy in Oslo and 14 consulates, in lesund, Arendal, Bergen, Bod, Hamar, Hammerfest, Kirkenes, Mandal, Moss, Narvik . The current state of relations between Denmark and . In Denmark, Sweden and Norway, political parties introduced voluntary gender quotas in the 1970s, resulting in high numbers of female political representatives . Ask the Finns and they will tell you that Swedish ultra-feminism has emasculated their men, but they will struggle to drown their sorrows. We've been dicks to all our neighbors historically, and we still try to export our policies as "the Swedish model", as if they were inherently superior to everything else. Finland's is a reactive, listening culture, burdened by taboos too many to mention (civil war, second world war and cold war-related, mostly). Nordic countries like Finland and Norway may regularly come out on top of world happiness indexes for wellbeing year-on-year - but new research shows the happiness is far from universal. So, yes, I do think culture matters a great deal to understanding why countries like Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden score high on this particular indicator of happiness. Collectively, Norwegians dont hate Swedes and Danes. It found that in total 12.3% of people living in the Nordic region said they were struggling or suffering, with 13.5% of young people ranking themselves as such. Generally, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden have a strong regional connection, which is marked by a strong economy, shared social values, and several land and water-use agreements. One main reason this is the case is because of the competition over resources. However, what is often overlooked is that in addition to their raids against foreign people in faraway places like the British Isles and France, the Vikings also waged war against each other. Today in Finland, two Christians will stand trial for publicly stating the theological and scientific truth that men and women are different. Analysis: the two countries are considering applying to join after Russias invasion of Ukraine. 1) The Nordic system kills innovation, and the United States' adopting it would have dire consequences for the world economy. The end of the Kalmar Union also marked the beginning of a tumultuous period that saw Denmark and Sweden engage in numerous bloody conflicts with the aim of achieving supremacy over the strategically important Baltic Sea region. Kurds celebrate to show their support for the independence referendum in Duhok, Iraq, September 26, 2017. "The next day, people laugh about it. Simple, the Danes also have the highest level of private debt in the world (four times as much as the Italians, to put it into context; enough to warrant a warning from the IMF), while more than half of them admit to using the black market to obtain goods and services. Swedes working in Norway are popular with customers, employers and workmates alike, alm. A few years ago, the Swedish Institute of Public Opinion Research asked young Swedes to describe their compatriots. It would be greatly appreciated if you'd join our discord https://discord.gg/ZjpnhAj. The Nazis are losing? Ask the Danes how they feel about their neighbors to the northeast, and the Swedes would likely be described as being stiff, overly reserved, and downright unfriendly. to learn more about Scandinavian culture. LOL yes, we're the ones trying to "export out policies." After all, for several centuries, these two nations wanted nothing more than to eradicate the other, and this level of animosity does not dissolve away completely. Sweden and Finland are set formally to end decades of neutrality and join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in a historic breakthrough for the alliance that deals a blow to Russian . Then in 1387, the three countries joined together through a unification agreement called the Kalmar Union. Photograph: EPA, What would Birgitte do? National pride certainly exists in Scandinavian countries like it does elsewhere in the world. (Also see What Are Reindeer Used for in Norway? It's all over a tiny group of islands, believe it or not. A Norwegian who is passionate about winter sports, may have a national pride when it comes to comparisons about speed skating or cross-country skiing. If you do decide to move there, don't expect scintillating conversation. Effectively a one-party state albeit supported by a couple of shadowy industrialist families for much of the 20th century, "neutral" Sweden (one of the world largest arms exporters) continues to thrive economically thanks to its distinctive brand of totalitarian modernism, which curbs freedoms, suppresses dissent in the name of consensus, and seems hell-bent on severing the bonds between wife and husband, children and parents, and elderly on their children. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I'm afraid I have to set you straight on Danish television too. Sweden's foreign ministry declined to comment on Erdogan's accusations when contacted by CNBC. Swedish media have said a final government decision will be made on Monday, with a formal application for membership to be submitted shortly afterwards. which ranked as the happiest world country in 2018, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35. Christian started Scandinavia Facts to explore his family heritage, raise awareness of one of his academic interests as a professor, and civilly promote the region. An indigenous minority of around 100,000 people spread over the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, the Sami have traditionally lived off reindeer herding and fishing. Its likely. There remains a disturbing Islamophobic sub-subculture in Norway. All Rights Reserved. Scandinavia Flags: Compare Designs and Meanings. The Treaty of Copenhagen, signed in 1660, signaled Swedens re-entry into a union with Norway and Denmark. The Finns are epic Friday-night bingers and alcohol is now the leading cause of death for Finnish men. (Also see Are Norwegians and Swedes the Same People?). The Vikings are often perceived as ultraviolent people whose ruthless ways terrorized all of Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. Driving from the south of the Sweden to the northern . As it turns out, this one comprises both truth and fiction. Denmark and Finland have also closed their borders to Swedes, fearing that they. When Erdogan talks of "terrorists" in this context, he means the Kurdish Workers' Party, or the PKK a Kurdish Marxist separatist movement that has been fighting Turkish forces on-and-off since the 1980s. While most of the Kurds living in Sweden which local groups say number as many as 100,000 have no affiliation with the PKK, the Swedish government has supported members of other Kurdish organizations, particularly the political wing of the PKK's Syrian branch, called the PYD. Numbers vary according to scholarly interpretation, but by some accounts, the Danes and Swedes have gone to war an astonishing 30 times since the 15th century (this is near twice the number of hostilities between England and France). How can they afford all those expensively foraged meals and hand-knitted woollens? Many have pointed to their success as a contrast to Sweden, which has a much higher COVID-19 death rate. Presumably the correlative of this is that Denmark has the best public services? Got a confidential news tip? According to a report in Politiken this month, the proportion of people below the poverty line has doubled over the last decade. The top eight adjectives they chose were: envious, stiff, industrious, nature loving, quiet, honest, dishonest, xenophobic. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talks speaks during a joint press with Sweden and Finland's Foreign ministers after their meeting at the Nato headquarters in Brussels on January 24, 2022 . Another way to look at it is sibling rivalry and family feuds. In other places, people prefer not to touch at all. Members of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) continue operations against the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Turkey regards as a terror group, within Turkey's Operation Peace Spring in Ras Al Ayn, Syria on October 17, 2019. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. 11 Really Good Reasons Why You Should Visit land, https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/, http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/images/Culture_Map_2017_conclusive.png, http://www.fallintofinland.com/culture/how-to-communicate-with-a-finn/, http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/mondays_papers_mp_absences_athletes_drinking_biathlon_bronze_norovirus_hunt/9469182, https://www.infopankki.fi/en/living-in-finland/finnish-and-swedish/finnish-online. Norway and Sweden have a very long history together. Yes. Some in the region believe Norwegians raise their children differently than others and instill in them a national pride that may not necessarily have implications for neighboring people groups, but it sometimes results in such perceptions. As far back as anyone can remember relations between them have been what can only be described as "pretty bloody awful". Kurdish fighters in Syria linked to the PKK played a major role in the fight against ISIS, receiving weapons support and funding from the U.S and Europe, including Sweden. The causes of the Scandinavia's states wealth are numerous and complex. Russia has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden against joining Nato, saying the serious military and political consequences of such a move would oblige it to take retaliatory steps to restore military balance by strengthening its defences in the Baltic, including by deploying nuclear weapons. Back in Spring, as the number of infections skyrocketed around the world, the Finnish government reacted promptly and imposed a two-month long lockdown. Helsinki, Finland Despite repeated threats from Russia, Finland is poised to join the U.S.-led NATO military alliance. Their negative perception isnt necessarily rooted in racial stereotypes. Eighteen Republican lawmakers voted against the US allowing Finland and Sweden to join NATO. to learn more. It was first in the 1970s that Norway began to take in large numbers of Muslim immigrants, and as early as 1979, the year after the publication of Edward Said's book Orientalism, Carl I. Hagen wrote a strongly anti-Islam column in the newspaper Aftenposten. And if you think a move across the North Sea would help you escape the paedophiles, racists, crooks and tax-dodging corporations one reads about in the British media on a daily basis, I'm afraid I must disabuse you of that too. Is this true? Finlands president, prime minister and senior cabinet ministers will meet on Sunday to make a formal decision on submitting an application. [1] But it has so many exciting places that deciding which area to visit can be challenging. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, India anti-corruption crusader fighting to clear his name, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Russia has threatened its close Arctic neighbours Sweden and Finland with 'military consequences' if they join NATO. As of 2022, NATO has expanded to let in three former Soviet states and all of the former Warsaw Pact countries. This sparked huge tensions with Turkey, which then launched attacks on the Kurds in Syria. Not the NATO member that is literally illegally invading and attacking other countries to feel better about themselves and to please daddy America. I think a lot of the reason Sweden being targetted by its neighbours can be attributed to simple facts: Sweden being the immediate Nordic neighbour of Denmark/Norway/Finland, Sweden being the largest country in the Nordics. Why it matters: A formal objection by Turkey would derail Finland and Sweden's expected NATO applications, which must be approved by all 30 NATO allies. I met with ke Daun, Sweden's most venerable ethnologist. Sweden denies this, saying it supports other Kurds who are not in the PKK but the details are more complicated. Many analysts believe the two countries will apply simultaneously. [3] Other Swedish characterizations of the Danish include: Due to their proximity to continental Europe and their direct interactions throughout history with the French and Germans, Danish people are also often perceived as possessing a bit of an elitist attitude toward their fellow Scandinavians across the water in Sweden and Norway. Ideas from the "happiest countries" such as the Danish hygge have grown in popularity, The report said young women reported the highest levels of unhappiness in some areas, Nordic countries regularly appear in the top five happiest places, according to the survey, with Finland coming top this year, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Underlying the tension between Turkey and Sweden is how each country defines "terrorist," says Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Stockholm also politically and financially supports the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political wing of the SDF, a Kurdish-led militia group created with support from the U.S. to fight ISIS in Syria. Since 1984, between 30,000 and 40,000 people are estimated to have died in fighting between the PKK and Turkish government, according to Crisis Group. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, The researchers behind In the Shadow of Happiness looked at data collected across five years, Time, not material goods, 'raises happiness', one of the report's authors, Michael Birkjaer, told the Guardian newspaper. I've rustled up a sorrel salad and there's some expensive, weak beer in the fridge. Geographically speaking, the Scandinavian peninsula is the area shared by Norway, Sweden, and a part of northern Finland. It found that young women consistently reported feeling depressed more than young men did. or the past few years the world has been in thrall to all things Nordic (for which purpose we must of course add Iceland and Finland to the Viking nations of Denmark, Norway and Sweden). (The other day, I turned up at my local A&E to be told that I had to make an appointment, which I can't help feeling rather misunderstands the nature of the service.) If only I had a penny everyone time someone from my country cried about tar or cudgel war well I wouldn't be rich but I could easily afford a cup of coffee. Competition and rivalry exist as well. Nato membership would mean that for the first time Finland and Sweden would have security guarantees from nuclear states. Non-Scandinavians may not be the root cause of any, or all of, such stereotypes, but they may contribute to them by believing them and expressing them to others. NATO expansion is something it has previously cited to justify invading Ukraine, also a NATO partner. The decision represents a setback for Moscow, with the. The researchers behind In the Shadow of Happiness looked at data collected across five years between 2012-2016 to try and build a better picture of the so-called "happiness superpowers". If Scandinavia was the Weasley family, Sweden would be Percy. 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