Don’t be fooled - Scandinavia is also shit

Whenever discussing alternate models of governance, Scandinavian countries are inevitably brought up as the idealistic trump card to show how a country can run prisons, processing asylum seekers, as models of social welfare, or whatever is being complained about by people who are invariably unaffected by any of these policies (this is an easy jab at myself).

Traditionally, Scandinavian countries have managed to project an image of being tolerant, liberal, and humane societies. They have projected this image not only to the world, but to their own people - constantly propagating their own humanism and its virtues. These countries have become internationally known as model societies for the human race. In nearly all measures of societal health and well-being, Scandinavian countries score incredibly highly.

But I am going to be bold and say that Scandinavia is CRAP. Or at least as crap as everyone else. Or at least has significant problems that are too often glossed over when they are being used as the proto-utopian social ideal by social welfare advocates (again easy jab at myself).

NOTE: The important thing to take from all of this is that all countries are developing. The notion of a developed country vs developing vs underdeveloped is a misnomer. We can all learn from each others successes and failures but lets not be so unwise as to build false pedestals.

Denmark

Denmark. Before I go on to analyse your trenchant racism, I am going to have to get a few things off my chest. Firstly, your language is not that hard, you simply have the worst language education models I have come across… that said, it does remain a silly language and you all sound like you are choking on a potato. Rugbrød is not nice and neither is salty licorice, which tastes like Satan’s urine after he has eaten a pile of asparagus. Finally, being blond, tall, blue-eyed and having the ability to tan does make you attractive - BUT when everyone looks like that it is like a scene from Children of the Corn - which is scary.

typical danish children

As much as it may be represented otherwise, Denmark does not have a progressive stance on refugees and asylum seekers. The Danish mask of decency and humanism has been pulled down by the treatment of non-European, non-Christian immigrants and refugees. There is an ugly face of racism that is most obviously evidenced by the growing popularity of right wing movements, and a general passivity among the public.

Denmark in recent years has seen a steady tightening of their immigration policies mirroring the attitudes of the population. Critics of Denmark's tightening rules on immigration and integration say the country is violating European norms, including human rights legislation.

Family reunions are curtailed by long waiting periods, unnecessary demands, and by the use of DNA tests. Laws introduced in 2012 about family reunions require a third world national to be a legal resident in Denmark for five years before he or she has the right to marry outside of Denmark and bring his or her spouse into this country. It takes three years to get a permanent stay permit if one marries a Danish citizen. Asylum seekers are banned from marrying in Denmark altogether.

Even those immigrants who have lived in Denmark for years are now obliged to show proof of their ability to provide for their families if they want to be reunited with them in Denmark.

Every immigrant and refugee must carry a stay/work permit all the time. Anyone who violates this rule is fined 600 kroner (US$105).

There have been reports that police officers are members of "Den Danske Forening", an anti-immigration organization that has had the label ‘Nazis’ applied to it. Some police officers and members of the National Guard (Hjemmeværnet) have publically, both in newspapers and TV programs, made statements that are punishable under Danish law that prohibits racist remarks. None of these police officers have been dismissed from duty or put on trial.

Fun Fact: Amnesty International has now included Denmark in its list of countries which abuse human rights.

Note: Eva Chan has written a brilliant piece on the Racism in Denmark and how it is excused as humour. link

Finland.

Finland, you may have a sauna in your international airport but you too are crap. I could point out that your suicide rate is outrageously high, or that I am surprised that you have 100% literacy given your levels of alcoholism, but I am also aware that you beat the Russian army and have no doubt that you are a people proficient in death dealing. With a full understanding of your killing capacity I dare say that your environmental attitudes are crap.

700 forest species are classified as endangered because of Finland’s current forestry policies.

Finland’s Lake Saimaa is home to one of the world’s rarest seals, the Saimaa ringed seal. With roughly 260 of these critically endangered animals left in the freshwater lake you would think that maybe it would be time to act on this.

Don’t like seals?

The mountain hare is classified as near threatened. The lesser white-fronted goose is critically endangered. The wolf is endangered. 700 is a long list of animals to not give a shit about.

The European Union has repeatedly told Finland that the country is not doing enough to protect their environmental heritage.

Yes, I am going a little soft in my critique of Finland but I am worried that Simo Häyhä may have given birth to children who will hunt me down for talking badly of their country.

I will end by saying that your coat of arms has a lion stabbing itself in the face... maybe a cause of the high suicide rates?

Norway

You are a country of peace loving prostitutes. Well, at least that is what the data says.

A 2012 report states that there are 70 percent more women selling sexual services in Norway today than in 2009. This is despite a 2009 prostitution law that prohibits the purchase, but not the sale, of sexual services.

According to Pro Centre (a NGO service provider for sex workers in Norway) it is not unusual to see 100 women on the streets of Oslo. According to their annual report approximately 50 percent of the prostitutes they encounter have come from abroad, highlighting those from Thailand, Romania and Bulgaria.

One group of prostitutes in Norway are women from Nigeria who, after several years in Europe, have given up the dream that they can make it here. They find themselves forced to work in prostitution in order to provide for family in Nigeria and/or to repay traffickers and others. These women feel helpless and miserable, and many would be ready to return if they believed a return to Nigeria might improve their situation. 

The extent of prostitution in Norway and the lack of deep multiculturalism creates significant issues. In an interview with two Norwegian citizens of African descent, Jessica Kiil and Susan Namuddu,  the interviewees noted:

“Imagine being asked ‘how much’ by men each time you move about Oslo city centre, being called whore by doormen and thrown out of night clubs, taxi drivers turning the light off and driving past you when you try to cath a cab. And if you’re a teenager, you’ll have to take detours to school or look into the ground so as not to be harassed. Just because you have the same skin color as Nigerian prostitutes who up until recently dominated the city scene in the capital. Many have also experienced threats from street prostitutes because they are seen as competitors.”

Sweden?

I was thinking about writing about Sweden but then chose to skip over it mostly because my one interaction with a Swede was a girl in Geneva who had ZERO personality.

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Media studies have shown that 70% of all media coverage of foreigners in Scandinavia is concerned either with crime or social problems. Frequently, such coverage is not only exaggerated and distorted, but is filled with flat out lies. It is rare that a foreigner's race, religion, culture and country of origin is not mentioned, whether or not this information is relevant.

So, in sum. Scandinavia, you are racist, environment-hating prostitute lovers. Too far? Perhaps. But the fact remains that these are far from Utopian societies, and would do well not to become too complacent.