Denmark

Abstract

The Danish state was established around year 1000 and included part of the British Isles, but was soon reduced to the Nordic and Baltic areas. Major reductions were the loss of the Scanian areas to Sweden in 1660 and of Norway in 1814 to Sweden. The special situation of the duchies Slesvig and Holsten is illustrated and their loss to Prussia in 1866, and again the reunion with the northern part of Slesvig in 1920 after a referendum. The internal administration has certain continuities independent of whether it was a feudal, absolutistic or democratic system. First of all, the regional administrative level below the state has continuity from the medieval period till 2007—with different names (fiefs, counties) and different numbers and appointments according to the political system. Common were the tax collection and the enforcement of national laws, next to regional tasks like infrastructure. At a lower level were the municipalities from 1842 till present. Again, their number and tasks were changing over time, but their appointments now followed the democratic mode.

Appendix

In 2020, status is unchanged: we still have a level of 5 regions and 98 municipalities with unchanged portfolios. There are political discussions about equalisation among the municipalities of the expenses for keeping the welfare state at a fair level, but this does not affect the division of the municipalities.