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Completed project

Institutional Change in Democratic Society

Project period 2013–2017
Project employer The Research Council of Norway
Project nr. 412.076
Project leader Fredrik Engelstad

A joint project by Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, Institute for Social Research, and Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research.

How are modern societies constituted? Dominant in sociological theory are either abstract “top down” perspectives, or arbitrary labels such as “risk society” or “post-modern society”. The project chose instead a bottom up approach in order to describe how large social formations are linked together. Thereby the focus on institutions becomes crucial.

In order to avoid excessive generality, three limitations were made: (i) Mechanisms and patterns of institutional change are highlighted, (ii) a limited set of institutions are studied, (iii) democracy is regarded as constitutive in all parts of modern society. Empirically, the emphasis is put on societies of the Scandinavian type, but with clear comparative ambitions. Being societies where the state is simultaneously strong and liberal makes these societies a special case in relationship to basic assumptions in the international literature.

The project consisted of three parts:

  • Part A discussed normative theory of democracy, and theory of institutional change.
  • Part B engaged with changes in the public sphere.
  • Part C concerned institutional change in working life and the welfare state, and what characterizes Scandinavia, in comparison with Continental Europe and the Anglo-American world.

Participants

ParticipantDegree PhoneE-mail
Fredrik Engelstad Affiliated Researcher Dr. philos. +47 900 22 484 fredrik.engelstad@sosgeo.uio.no
Øyvind Søraas Skorge Senior Research Fellow PhD +47 930 41 655 oyvind.skorge@samfunnsforskning.no
Kari Steen-Johnsen Research Professor PhD +47 906 49 417 kari.steen-johnsen@samfunnsforskning.no
Mari Teigen Research professor, Director CORE – Centre for Research on Gender Equality Dr. polit. +47 482 07 137 mari.teigen@samfunnsforskning.no
Stine Hesstvedt (ARENA Centre for European Studies)
Axel West Pedersen
Anniken Hagelund

Publications

  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Afterword: Institutional Differentiation and Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 389–400. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-019.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Social Institutions and the Quality of Democracy. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 22–47. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-003.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2018). Elite Compromise as a Mode of Institutional Change: The United States and Norway Compared. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 363–388. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-018.
  • Teigen, Mari (2018). Can descriptive representation be justified outside politics? . In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 193–212. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-010. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (2018). Introduction: Democracy, Institutional Compatibility and Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Holst, Cathrine & Aakvaag, Gunnar C. (Ed.), Democratic State and Democratic Society. De Gruyter Open. p. 1–21. doi: 10.1515/9783110634082-002.
  • Enjolras, Bernard & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). The digital transformation of the political public sphere: a sociological perspective. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 99–117. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330. Full text in Research Archive
  • Furseth, Inger (2017). The Return of Religion in the Public Sphere? The Public Role of Nordic Faith Communities. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). Strategic Communication and Institutional Change. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open.
  • Larsen, Håkon (2017). The Public Sphere as an Arena for Legitimation Work: The Case of Cultural Organizations. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 201–219. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-011.
  • Lundby, Knut (2017). Public Religion in Mediatized Transformations. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 241–263. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-013. Full text in Research Archive
  • Segaard, Signe Bock (2017). The Institutional Anchoring of Social Media Venues as Arenas for Local Political Communication. Perceptions by Voters and Politicians. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 118–138. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-007. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon & Rogstad, Jon (2017). The Public Sphere in the Nordic Model. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 46–70. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-004. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). Introduction: The Public Sphere in Change. Institutional Perspectives on Neo-corporatist Society. In Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (Ed.), Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. p. 1–21. doi: 10.1515/9783110546330-002. Full text in Research Archive
  • Teigen, Mari (2015). The Making of Gender Quotas for Corporate Boards in Norway. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 96–117. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-007.
  • Nyen, Torgeir & Tønder, Anna Hagen (2015). Cooperation and Reform in Vocational Education and Training. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 201–218. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-012.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Conflict, Compromise, Cooperation Concluding Reflections. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 282–292. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-016.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Property Rights, Governance, and Power Balances. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 36–55. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-004.
  • Hagelund, Anniken & Engelstad, Fredrik (2015). Introduction: Institutional Change in Neo- Corporatist Society. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 1–16. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-002.
  • Hagelund, Anniken & Pedersen, Axel West (2015). To Reform or Not to Reform? Explaining the Coexistence of Successful Pension Reform and Sick Pay Inertia in Norway. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 220–242. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-013.
  • Ellingsæter, Anne Lise (2015). Making, Unmaking and Remaking: The Evolution of Nordic Cash for Childcare Schemes. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 262–280. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-015.
  • Svalund, Jørgen (2015). Cooperation and Power in Labour Adjustment Choices: A Nordic Perspective. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 157–178. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-010.
  • Olberg, Dag (2015). Regulating the temporary layoff institution- coalitions and drift. In Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (Ed.), Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. p. 136–156. doi: 10.1515/9783110436891-009.

View all works in Cristin

  • Engelstad, Fredrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rogstad, Jon & Steen-Johnsen, Kari (2017). Institutional Change in the Public Sphere: Views on the Nordic Model. De Gruyter Open. 269 p.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik & Hagelund, Anniken (2015). Cooperation and Conflict the Nordic Way : Work, Welfare, and Institutional Change in Scandinavia. De Gruyter Open. 298 p.

View all works in Cristin

  • Vabø, Mia (2017). The dynamic of change in Public service organizations.
  • Hagelund, Anniken (2017). Velferdsstaten i endring.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). Demokrati og institusjoner i endring.
  • Engelstad, Fredrik (2017). Innledning.

View all works in Cristin

Tags: Welfare, Gender Equality, Elections and Democracy
Published Jan. 2, 2014 10:07 AM - Last modified Feb. 26, 2024 1:13 PM