SAMFUNNSVITENSKAPELIG EMBEDSEKSAMEN VÅR 2013
Statsvitenskap, STV1510 – Nordic Politics
Thursday May 2, 4 hours
You are to answer both exercise 1 and exercise 2. Each exercise will be weighted equally (50% each) in the final evaluation.
Exercise 1: Here you are to answer either essay A or essay B
A:
Outline the present party systems in Denmark and Sweden and possible changes in these party systems the last 30-40 years. Discuss the degree to which the Nordic five party system model is relevant for understanding the party systems in these countries during the period.
Finally, discuss how these party systems reflect social cleavages.
B:
What is a social cleavage? The Lipset/Rokkan model of social cleavages consists of the centre-periphery cleavage, the religious-secular cleavage and cleavages in the labour and commodity markets. Outline what these cleavages are and how they are relevant for the conflicts between political parties in the Scandinavian countries. Discuss trends over time in the impact of these cleavages at the voter level.
To what extent and how have gender and sector of employment become significant cleavages in the Scandinavian countries?
Exercise 2: Here you are to answer three of the following four questions (a-d). The answers will be weighted equally for the final evaluation, and together they will count for 50% of the final evaluation.
a) First, outline key similarities and differences between modern administrative reforms in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Discuss why Sweden has been the most radical reformer among the three.
b) First, explain the three basic principles of the Nordic welfare model: universalism, comprehensiveness and equality. Then, discuss how these principles may have come under pressure from national and international factors.
c) Finnish security policy is now radically different from that which existed during the Cold War. Discuss Finnish security policy during the Cold War and compare it with the present policy, and discuss why it has changed.
d) The three Nordic members of the European Union have quite different policies regarding integration into the European Union, especially concerning monetary and security policy. Discuss the integration policies of these three countries and the reasons for the differences between them.