The Nordic countries are at crossroads that is testing their global role, their leaders and their identity.
Their choices will affect the lives of millions of people all over the world. The Nordic countries have a unique role in the world in their efforts in peace, sustainable development and poverty alleviation. They are characterized by high levels of development aid in which poverty alleviation is the overall objective. It’s called The Nordic Exceptionalism. It’s not exceptionalism as in smugness – it’s exceptionalism as in idealism and willingness to make a change that can benefit the world’s poor. Following the cuts in the Official Development Aid (ODA) this report seeks to answer the question: Are we seeing the end of Nordic exceptionalism in foreign and development policies and efforts? The report is available for download here.
[Norwegian Church Aid]