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Cultural Sociology in Scandinavia

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Handbuch Kultursoziologie

Part of the book series: Springer Reference Sozialwissenschaften ((SRS))

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Abstract

In this chapter, we emphasize the diversity and complexity of cultural sociology in Scandinavia. We begin with brief ‘entries’ that narrate our own encounters with cultural sociology and illustrate the multiplicity of theories, methods, and areas of research. We then briefly sketch accounts of cultural sociology in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark), highlighting the main debates and issues. Institutional contexts and cultural politics influence the conditions for, and emergence of, cultural sociologists. Our accounts of the three countries are not comprehensive and do not do full justice to their particular national research traditions. Our aim is to highlight bits and pieces that appear to be characteristic of each country. Together, these aspects construct a mosaic of traditions and new trends that we find represented in all three countries. In the conclusion, we sum up and broaden the scope to place Scandinavian cultural sociology in an international context.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The cultural dimension has been an important perspective in the development of Scandinavian sociology. Former sociological generations were also engaged with how to understand the connections between cultural and overall social structures. What we may be seeing today is a process whereby this cultural sociological heritage is becoming institutionalized to a greater extent.

  2. 2.

    Denmark, Sweden and Norway are the three countries officially included in the standard definition of Scandinavia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia, accessed 14 October 2015).

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Håkon Larsen and Ove Skarpenes for helpful comments on previous drafts of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Schweden

    Tora Holmberg

  2. Department of Cultural Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Schweden

    Anna Lund

  3. Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 720, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Schweden

    Åsa Wettergren

Authors
  1. Tora Holmberg
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  2. Anna Lund
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  3. Åsa Wettergren
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Correspondence to Tora Holmberg .

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  1. Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Graz, Austria

    Stephan Moebius

  2. Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Graz, Austria

    Frithjof Nungesser

  3. Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz , Graz, Austria

    Katharina Scherke

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Holmberg, T., Lund, A., Wettergren, Å. (2016). Cultural Sociology in Scandinavia. In: Moebius, S., Nungesser, F., Scherke, K. (eds) Handbuch Kultursoziologie. Springer Reference Sozialwissenschaften. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-08000-6_11-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-08000-6_11-1

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