Barry Turner with Gunilla Nordquist, The Other European Community: Integration and Cooperation in Nordic Europe, London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1982. 307 pp. Cloth/paper.

In spite of the title, this is not really a study of integration and cooperation within the Nordic community. The main thrust of the well-written book is a broad, comparative overview of social, economic, cultural and political trends in the five Nordic countries. The relations among these nations or with other areas are only given secondary consideration here. The emphasis is on those significant features of the Nordic societies which stand out as unique and which have made lasting impressions on an outside but well-informed and perceptive observer. In the tradition of Childs, Rustow, Eckstein, Hancock, and others, the author wants to capture what is essentially Nordic and to draw some wider lessons from the Scandinavian experience of democracy, equality and prosperity.

Starting in a textbook fashion with a description of the geographical and historical elements of the region, the author quickly moves on to a survey of industrial, social and political changes during the first half of this century. He compares and contrasts the developments in each country and is able to draw out some significant trends in a limited space. The relatively painless movement, in most of the countries, toward social democracy is stressed. The conventional view of moderation, consensus and compromise as factors behind peaceful social and industrial change is given.

A longer chapter traces the political history of the post-war era. This section of the book gives a less well-integrated treatment of the regional features, covering one nation at a time with only limited comparison among them. The author presents the success story of the 1950s and 1960s involving the achievement of advanced welfare societies based on rapid economic growth. Again, moderation is emphasized as a corner stone of the Nordic record. The lesson to be drawn from the Nordic experience is that "a policy of gradualist reform must stand its best chance of success in small homogenous societies where late industrial development has put social conflicts into a manageable context" (p. 106).

The many attempts at Nordic economic cooperation, the creation of EFTA and the efforts to find satisfactory relations with the European Community are surveyed at some length in chapter four. The overview shows rather convincingly how the conflicting European and Nordic options can best be understood in the context of domestic economic interests and political conflicts. The aborted NORDEK scheme of 1968-70 and the subsequent negotiations with the EC are discussed in some depth and appear to be based on well known secondary sources. This section concludes with a brief review of the continued

commitment to Nordic cooperation also after 1973. This chapter adds little
new information or analysis but manages to pull together considerable material
covering a twenty-fice year span into a crisp and digestable survey.

Political developments in the 1970s are also discussed in a separate chapter. The author here clearly shows his talent as a perceptive political observer with an eye for the essential elements of the domestic political games. The common themes of rising populism and the necessity of dealing with economic recession are nicely brought forward in the five separate national surveys. In all fairness, one must admit that throughout the study Sweden gets a disproportionate share of the analysis both in terms of volume and depth. On the other hand, it is unusual and particularly welcome that all five Nordic countries are consistently included in this history of recent social and political developments. The chapter offers a fine piece of reflective political journalism.

The various attempts at fostering greater industrial and energy-related cooperation between Norway and Sweden during the last ten years are also discussed. A very informative account of the unsuccessful Norwegian Volvodeal of 1978 and its implications for continued economic cooperation in the region is offered. On this topic, the author seems to contribute some new knowledge to the English language literature on Nordic relations. In addition, the chapter reviews the Nordic experiences with industrial democracy in its various manifestations. Also this segment should be of broad interest among students of Scandinavia.

The final chapter of the book develops the theme of cultural democracy. The author argues that these countries have proceeded through political to social democracy and are now well under way to also attempt cultural democracy. Tracing the heritage of Nordic cultural nationalism and the folk movements of the previous century, the author links the modern quest for social reform with measures to create a broadly based, high quality culture fostering a Nordic identity. Traditional and newly formed cultural and educational policies are discussed with a view to how the governments have tried to strengthen this element of modern democracy. The record of innovative and controversial changes in the educational systems is given special attention together with efforts to widen public access to cultural activities. The main focus is on the domestic scenes but the post-war record of Nordic cultural cooperation is also touched upon briefly.

The author concludes his study with the assertation that the Nordic countries also in the future will have something significant to contribute to the fuller understanding of Western society. He feels that these nations are better placed than most to deal successfully with the uncertainties of technological change and to create an environment "in which the individual can find greater satisfaction and fulfilment". Discounting less flattering predictions to the contrary,

the author ends his book with the traditional view "that Norden will long
retain its reputation as the social laboratory of the Western world" (p. 297).

This book is of limited value to the advanced student of the Nordic societies or of Nordic cooperation. Without references and seemingly based on already published materials it presents little that is new to the informed reader. The conventional view of events and forces is given on most of the topics covered. Only the discussion of the recent developments of the 1970s would seem of potential interest as this is a time-period as yet fairly unexplored by serious researchers. As an academic, one must nevertheless admire the brave and largely successful attempt at drawing this vast picture in a cross-national perspective. Similar efforts focusing in more depth on more specific sectors of society would be most welcome.

The primary contribution of the book is its broad and comparative overview of significant contemporary features of the five Nordic societies. The author is sensitive to common trends and national contrasts. He is obviously well read on the many themes covered and offers numerous thoughtful interpretations on the various topics. The study crosses disciplinary boundaries and covers culture, social patterns, economic developments as well as political events. It is also written in an easily'read, almost exciting style without footnotes or academic jargon. A bibliography for further readings is included.

One finishes this work with the impression that Barry Turner has managed to fit a reasonably rich analysis of complex domestic developments into a fairly tight package. Like his noted predecessors, he also helps perpetuate a favorable international image of our region. The book has considerable potential as an introduction for readers not overly familiar with the Nordic community of states.