4 - Human Rights

Summary

This chapter examines the Nordic reality with respect to human rights. While achieving a positive record in this area, the Nordics have also been criticized for violating the religious freedom of immigrants (especially Muslim immigrants) and having a somewhat outdated version of women’s rights, as well. Nordic (especially Swedish) foreign policy has been criticized for hypocrisy in this area. The situation of Jews and Israel provides a fascinating overlap of these domestic and foreign concerns, which may tend to undermine the model’s appeal overseas.