Scandinavism

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Scandinavism and Nordism are political ideas that supports cooperation between the Scandinavian and/or Nordic countries.

1 Scandinavism
2 Nordism
3 Scandinavism and Nordism today
4 External links

[edit] Scandinavism

Scandinavism was a short-lived political movement in the mid-19th century that supported the idea of Scandinavia as a unified region or even a single nation, based on the common linguistic, political and cultural heritage of the Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway, Sweden. (These three countries are referred to as "three brothers" in the sixth stanza of the national anthem of Norway.)

The movement was initiated by Danish and Swedish university students in the 1840s. At first the movement was supported by the liberal newspapers like Fædrelandet and Aftonbladet, which saw it as a way to counter the conservative powers that be and during the war between Denmark and Prussia in 1848, Sweden (then in union with Norway) offered support in form of a Norwegian-Swedish expeditionary force, though the force never actually saw combat. The movement received a blow from which it never fully recovered after the Danish-German war over Schleswig, when the Swedish government refused to jeopardize its future by joining in an alliance against the rising German power on the continent.

[edit] Nordism

Nordism is a movement that in many ways is similar to Scandinavism, but also includes Finland, Iceland and the Danish territories Greenland and Faroe Islands.

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[edit] Scandinavism and Nordism today

Modern Nordism and Scandinavism has played a part in the close cooperation among the five Nordic countries, examples include the Nordic Passport Union, the Scandinavian Airlines System and the Royal League. It also surfaces amongst Danes and Swedes in criticism of the EU, saying a Nordic union between Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland would have been better. According to a poll in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway; "a slim majority of voters in Norway and Sweden in favour of a Nordic, rather than European, union. A slight majority of Danish voters favour the EU, but would support closer ties to a Nordic union, if a partnership with the EU on free cross-border movement and free trade would be arranged." ^[1]